How to Fail at Slow Thinking
(019) Phil Phails @ Slow Thinking with David Beaver
Join Phil in an insightful discussion with David Beaver, director of UT's Cognitive Science program, as they explore the pitfalls of "slow thinking." Discover why simply checking boxes in the voting booth can be considered a failure, even if the outcome aligns with your preferences.
Learn how our brains often default to fast thinking for routine tasks, like sitting in the same spot in class or making quick decisions, and why this can lead to a lack of critical judgment in more important scenarios. David shares examples from his class on bias, highlighting how students tend to stick to familiar patterns without much thought.
The conversation also touches on the art of persuasion, comparing everyday interactions to car sales, where the goal is to make you feel comfortable enough to bypass your slow thinking. Dive into the complexities of how we form political opinions, often influenced by fast, associative thinking rather than careful, logical analysis.
David's journey to American citizenship adds a personal touch, culminating in a humorous attempt at reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. This video offers a deep dive into the mechanics of our thinking processes and the importance of knowing when to switch gears from fast to slow thinking.
#PhilPhails #SlowThinking #DavidBeaver #FastThinking #CognitiveScience #DecisionMaking #CriticalThinking #VotingProcess #Mindfulness #Philosophy #UTAustin #Bias #Persuasion #AmericanCitizen
About David Beaver
Based in Austin, Texas for the last 18 years, I’m a professional academic working on the nature of meaning from linguistic, philosophical, social, psychological, and computational perspectives. I’m also passionate about dance, especially Contact Improv, a dance form that emphasizes curiosity, connection, and flow. I have two adult children, a son here in Austin, and a daughter now living in the UK. I grew up in the UK myself, and have joint US/British nationality. I worked for six years in the Netherlands before taking up an academic job at Stanford in California. Nine years later, I moved to Austin, Texas for my current post at UT. As a professor at UT, I’m based in the Linguistics Department, where I currently have the role of Graduate Advisor, and am secondarily a faculty member in the Philosophy Department. I am the director of UT’s Cognitive Science program, which I hope will be accepting majors very soon. The work of a professor is sometimes described as 50% research, 50% teaching, and 50% service work, to which I might add that at least 50% of any professor’s time is spent complaining about the other three. As well as journal articles and book chapters, I’ve published three books, most recently “The Politics of Language” (Princeton University Press) with my coauthor Jason Stanley. I especially enjoy collaborations that take me into neighboring disciplines, such as AI, psychology, political philosophy, and sociology. I believe that linguists have more to learn from dance than dancers do from linguistics.
About Phillip Jones
👨👧👧 Single dad | 🧠 Neurodivergent & Proud | 🛤️ Path Seeker
After a lifetime of personal growth—through self-help, therapy, and endless learning—I'm embracing my unique journey. No more chasing 'normal.' Here to celebrate the quirks, the trials, and the joys of being authentically me. 🌟
Leaving the software world behind, I'm forging a new trail with "Phil Phails," a show that revels in the messiness of life and learning. Catch my latest adventures and dad moments on Austin Public and YouTube. Let’s redefine success together. #PhilPhails 🎬
The Fool's journey is a tapestry of learning, woven with threads of naivety and the vibrant colors of experience. Each step is a dance between innocence and wisdom, a transformation that beckons the curious souls to witness the unfolding of a human in bloom. Embrace this odyssey with open arms, for the path of the unknowing is a canvas for growth, and every traveler a masterpiece in progress.
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