I think I would have benefitted from Hanson’s ‘Elephant in the Brain’, since I was intensely frustrated by (what I saw as) pervasive, inexplicable, wilfully bad choices, and this frustration affected my politics and ethics.
But it’s high-risk, since it’s easy to misread as justifying adolescent superiority (having ‘seen through’ society).
Thanks for the considered recommendation. It looks interesting but the potential pitfall you note is certainly a problem with some students (being good at maths doesn’t make you generally intelligent, but it can often make you believe you are)! I’ll probably buy a personal copy and evaluate having read it.
I think I would have benefitted from Hanson’s ‘Elephant in the Brain’, since I was intensely frustrated by (what I saw as) pervasive, inexplicable, wilfully bad choices, and this frustration affected my politics and ethics.
But it’s high-risk, since it’s easy to misread as justifying adolescent superiority (having ‘seen through’ society).
Actually I think Feynman has the same risk. (Consider his motto: “disregard others” ! All very well, if you’re him.)
https://stepsandleaps.wordpress.com/2017/10/17/feynmans-breakthrough-disregard-others/
Thanks for the considered recommendation. It looks interesting but the potential pitfall you note is certainly a problem with some students (being good at maths doesn’t make you generally intelligent, but it can often make you believe you are)! I’ll probably buy a personal copy and evaluate having read it.