Four careers over 50+ years. USMC, engineering, consulting, education. Past twenty years have focused on helping leaders become and remain relevant during times of change.
MindPrep 286 – Socrates, Feynman, and you?
|
Reader "The first principle is that you must not fool yourself—and you are the easiest person to fool." Richard Feynman Socrates, René Descartes, Carl Sagan, James Randi, Richard Feynman, and Penn & Teller were all practical skeptics. They demonstrated: Critical Inquiry: Asking tough questions and demanding clear evidence. Open-Mindedness: Being willing to change views when presented with better evidence. How about you? Are you a practical skeptic? “They” are trying to bend your mind (still and again)MindPrep 233 (HERE) and MindPrep 285 (HERE) posed the challenge that people and organizations are trying to influence our thinking. Sometimes this attempt is for a good reason (e.g., your parents, a teacher) and sometimes it’s for a not-so-good reason. And sometimes it seems so wild or goofy that you say, “How could anyone fall for that?” But we do. (Well, at least some of us do.)
Watch for red flagsUnrealistic Promises: If it sounds too good, it likely isn’t true. Upfront Payments: Legitimate offers don’t require fees to access rewards. Time Pressure: "Act now or lose this deal!" creates urgency to cloud judgment. Lack of Transparency: If the terms, conditions, or details seem vague or hidden, it’s a red flag. Everyday skepticism – 3 recommendationsAsk Key Questions:
Evaluate Sources: Check for credibility, authority, and potential biases. Follow the Money: Analyze motivations behind claims (e.g., financial incentives, political agendas). Bottom line: It pays to be a skeptic. May I ask a favor?If you like my weekly musing, please forward this to a friend or colleague. They can get on my email list, which is never shared, by clicking HERE. Cheers, Bill |
Bill @ MindPrep
Four careers over 50+ years. USMC, engineering, consulting, education. Past twenty years have focused on helping leaders become and remain relevant during times of change.
Reader, Yesterday I’m a “leading edge” Boomer, so I remember my mom worried about this thing called “polio” in the 1950s. I remember pictures of children on crutches and people in iron lungs. I remember putting dimes in a cardboard slot and sending the contribution to The March of Dimes to fight the disease. I remember standing in line at school to get “the vaccine.” I remember when polio was declared to be eliminated in the United States. Today “Florida's position on vaccine policy under...
Reader Last week I reflected on the small study conducted by some MIT researchers and a disturbing finding. They asked 58 students to write an essay. Some could use ChatGPT to create an initial draft. Some could use Google-search for research. And some had to draw entirely on their own knowledge and reasoning. 83% of those who used ChatGPT to draft their work couldn’t recall a single sentence minutes later. The researchers referred to this as “AI-induced amnesia.” Four Questions Reflect on...
Reader (We are still unpacking from our move from Colorado to Illinois, so this is very short. I’ll comment on this in the next issue. In the meantime, ponder the impact of this technology on you and your family. It’s not going to go away.) “Writing is how we think our way into a subject and make it our own. Writing enables us to find out what we know—and what we don't know—about whatever we're trying to learn.” (William Zinsser, Writing to Learn, 1988) Zinsser’s book has been a companion for...