EPISODE · Sep 16, 2011 · 32 MIN
Please Explain: Common Sense
from Please Explain (The Leonard Lopate Show) · host WNYC
Common sense seems simple enough, but it can be more complicated and less helpful that you would expect. Duncan J. Watts, sociologist and Yahoo! Principal Researcher, explains the benefits and limitations of common sense and looks closely at how common-sense reasoning can be misleading. His book Everything You Know Is Obvious once You Know the Answer draws on the latest scientific research and real-life examples to show how common sense attempts to predict, manage, and manipulate social and economic systems often fail, and looks at the implications in politics, business and everyday life. If you have a question about common sense, or some examples of when it works and when it fails, call us at 646-829-3985, or leave a comment.
What this episode covers
Common sense seems simple enough, but it can be more complicated and less helpful that you would expect. Duncan J. Watts, sociologist and Yahoo! Principal Researcher, explains the benefits and limitations of common sense and looks closely at how common-sense reasoning can be misleading. His book Everything You Know Is Obvious once You Know the Answer draws on the latest scientific research and real-life examples to show how common sense attempts to predict, manage, and manipulate social and economic systems often fail, and looks at the implications in politics, business and everyday life. If you have a question about common sense, or some examples of when it works and when it fails, call us at 646-829-3985, or leave a comment.
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Please Explain: Common Sense
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