Why We're Polarized

In 2016, the United States experienced a historic election that brought to light the deep, abiding divisions amongst Americans. Since then, political polarization has been the name of the game, and perhaps THE ultimate source of our political dysfunction. How did we get so polarized? This episode, Dina and Manoshi explore the political, social, and psychological underpinnings of America's political polarization with a discussion of Why We're Polarized, a 2020 book by political journalist Ezra Klein. We discuss questions like: [00:03:54] Where did political polarization originate within America's political system? [00:14:39] Is political polarization solely America's problem? (Or: what did Dina learn from this book that seems to fit Israel's political dysfunction?) [00:29:42] What is the effect of group polarization on logical reasoning? [00:40:21] Why are we so polarized now, as opposed to any other time in history? [00:44:42] What is the influence of technology on political polarization? [00:59:47] Are there structural factors inherent in America's political system that makes it uniquely susceptible to the effects of polarization? [01:00:34] What should we do about polarization? Join us as we explore the reasons why we as human beings can't help but be polarized, in the hopes that we can recognize (and mitigate) signs of polarization in ourselves. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. And, if you want to continue the discussion, join us at the discussion forums at formalizedcuriosity.substack.com. And a quick note: this was the first episode we ever recorded! As such, the sound quality leaves something to be desired, unfortunately. Sorry for any annoyance or discomfort this may cause! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit formalizedcuriosity.substack.com