The scout might think or hope that there is a bridge to cross the river but if there is not, then he or she will update their map accordingly.īut, do we really want to find out the truth? Some might argue that we do not. Yet if we really want to find out the truth, the soldier mindset is counterproductive. Apparently, it is difficult to realise-or at least it is not straightforward-when you are in soldier mode. I mean, not me, of course, but everybody else does. Many times, when we discuss heated topics, we enter into a soldier mindset. The scout’s goal is to obtain a more precise representation of reality. So what is a scout mindset? Julia uses this term as opposed to a soldier mindset. And now she has written a book about it, titled, yes, The Scout Mindset. And she mentions how she changed her mind after the interviews, even if just slightly. She listens to the arguments of the others and engages with them-not with a strawman version of them, but with them. And, truth to be told, I think she hosts much better by herself. She used to co-host it with Massimo Pigliucci, a philosopher and authors of several books, including Live Like a Stoic. I have talked about this podcast in the past. Work to attract those that make you a better version of yourself.I have known about Julia Galef for a while, as she hosts the podcast Rationally Speaking.
You’re creating a brand – Be conscious of the type of people you’re attracting.We are all the sum of our experiences… Approach people, places, and things with curiosity.Lyndon Johnson – Need to understand why someone wouldn’t agree with you….“I think there’s a 70% chance this won’t work.”.Persuade while still expressing uncertainty:.Epistemic – How much certainty that you have in your views.Social – Poised, charismatic, relaxed body language, be worth listening to.Distinguish between two kinds of confidence:.Also… Not all arguments are worth having.Recognize the tendency to describe the conflict accurately. Practical application: Be cognizant how you seek out and respond to criticism.Scout mindset – survey and see what’s true.A lot of times, humans are in a soldier mindset – “Belief was strong, unshakeable, opposed argument.He estimated that his idea had about a 30% chance to work. Jeff Bezos left his job on Wall Street to start Amazon and acknowledged the uncertainty.“Don’t accept the premise that being wrong means you screwed up.” The key principle is the way you think about being wrong.“Our goal should be to be less wrong over time.” We need to build the skill to change our mind. “Julia Galef is an intellectual leader of the rationalist community, and in The Scout Mindset you will find an engaging, clearly written distillation of her very important accumulated wisdom on these topics.” - Tyler Cowen.You need to cultivate the motivation to see things clearly.”
Appreciate the emotional rewards of scout mindset.Learn tools that make it easier to see clearly.Realize that trust isn’t in conflict with your other goals.It’s what prompts you to honestly ask yourself questions like “Was I at fault in that argument?” or “Is this risk really worth it?” As the physicist Richard Feynman said: “The first rule is that you must not fool yourself – and you are the easiest person to fool.”