Why We Think the Way We Do with Cognitive Scientist Steven Sloman

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] of us think we know more than we do. But what if our beliefs—especially political ones—are shaped less by facts and more by the people around us? In this mind-expanding episode, Dr. Steven Sloman, professor at Brown University and co-author of The Knowledge Illusion, explores how humans think, why we rely on others for knowledge, and how sacred values—not reasoned analysis—drive political polarization. He explains the tension between intuitive and deliberative thinking, the communal nature of belief, and why asking people why they believe something rarely changes minds—but asking about consequences might. If you're wondering why people dig in on issues like immigration, tariffs, or abortion—and how to bridge deep divides—this episode is for you.👤 Guest BioDr. Steven Sloman is a professor of cognitive, linguistic, and psychological sciences at Brown University, where he has taught since 1992. He’s the co-author of The Knowledge Illusion: Why We Never Think Alone and author of The Cost of Conviction (MIT Press). His research focuses on reasoning, decision-making, and belief formation, and his work has been featured in The New Yorker, The New York Times, and Scientific American.🔗 Resource LinksThe Knowledge Illusion: Why We Never Think Alone by Steven Sloman: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9780399184369 The Cost of Conviction: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9780262049825Support the show🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics📩 Reach out to us:Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Host, Will Wright: [email protected]📱 Follow & connect with us:Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:faithfulpolitics.substack.com