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You Can’t Think That!

Are some thoughts too evil to think? In his guide to thinking better, Professor Steven Pinker explores the trade-off between taboos and our ability to reason clearly.

Are some thoughts too evil to think? Sometimes we avoid seemingly rational lines of reasoning, not because of logic, innumeracy or ignorance, but for morality. In his guide to thinking better, Professor Steven Pinker explores the trade-offs between taboos and our ability to reason clearly.

Steven’s joined by Philip Tetlock, professor at the University of Pennsylvania, author of β€˜Super Forecasting’ and the psychologist who originated the modern study of taboo. And by Sally Satel, a psychiatrist and senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. When she needed a kidney transplant, and then another, should she have been able to simply buy one online?

Producers: Imogen Walford and Joe Kent
Editor: Emma Rippon

Think with Pinker is produced in partnership with The Open University.

Available now

29 minutes

Last on

Sun 19 Dec 2021 23:00

Broadcasts

  • Thu 16 Dec 2021 16:00
  • Sun 19 Dec 2021 23:00

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