Why Smart People Believe Silly Things

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I gave this speech in February at the LogiCal LA conference in Los Angeles. Receiving the footage at this time has been helpful, since as this uploads I will be on holiday, meaning it fills what otherwise would have been an empty week with no content.

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Alex O'Connor
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[vearage]

I get the feeling that Alex just begged the arrangers to put the lecture in the morning so every one of his videos could start with “Good morning, everybody”

[gabrielchattaway]

We can take a moment to acknowledge the fact he was 18?

Very inspiring speech Alex.

[Nattbad]

"It is infinitely more productive to be openly biased, than to be deceptively neutral"
That's one of my favorite quotes from Alex. 33:12

[vascoamaralgrilo]

Thanks! Why smart people believe silly things (26:30):

1- We are emotional animals prone to allowing our emotions to overcome our reason;
2- Smart people are often more of a problem because they are better at rationalising their emotional hunches;
3- When a smart person does hold a silly belief, they are better at convincing other people of this;
4- Even with the benefit of a free market of ideas, confirmation bias, like a snake in the grass, ruins its efficiency.

Conclusion: Smart people not only can hold silly beliefs, but often pose even more of a problem when they do.

[SultanLaxeby]

Your words touch my heart. It is true. My own girlfriend is one of those people. She is kind, loving, smart and all I could ever hope for. She is my soulmate. Nonetheless, she still holds this abhorrent belief. But I still love her and I want to get old with her, even if she likes pineapple pizza.

[bantaar]

I think I'm more of a silly person who believes smart things.

[alazrabed]

As a wise man once said: "I'm not sure I'm doubting myself enough."

[terrycole]

He is incredibly expressive. Such a way with words! Not one syllable is wasted.

[buzzbarnes]

I was a devout christian until I was 62. I got several versions of the bible, booklets by famous TV evangelists. I started from Genesis 1;1 and went through the bible page by page, verse by verse. I wanted to become a better christian, however, the more I got into this intense study, I found verses, chapters, books, that made me feel that all this was nonsense. It took me 3 years before I actually did not believe the bible and became an Atheist. And another 2 years before I stopped looking over my shoulder to see if god was watching me. I am now 77 and have no doubt Atheist-ism is my firm belief now.

[nimasyoutubez]

On a more serious note: this video is once again a brilliant one. Interesting, well spoken and funny. I am so happy you are the same age as me. Knowing my generation has somebody like you to represent it, even if it remains on a relatively small scale, is absolutely delightful.

[elviralopez]

Alex, I’m impressed by your vast knowledge, eloquence and oratory. It’s really difficult, if nor impossible, to find those in someone so young. I believe you have a brilliant future ahead of you. Young people like you give us, the seniors, hope for the future. Thank you. Take care of your many gifts.

[jdwhite]

45:25, "You've really got to pick your battles" is invaluable. For me this often means choosing between being right or being effective which is context and relationship dependant. I've learned to act and speak from kindness and respect over burnishing my ego and identity which, counterintuitively, allows me to be comfortable with my self and others.

[LeneChibi]

Didn't think Hitchens would reincarnate this fast.

[winnygallagher]

4:46 "A change in the way that we're viewing, not necessarily the bad ideas, but the people who hold them; the demonization of the people who hold them, I think, is the main problem and something that I want to change."

This says everything.

[elsagrace]

Lady at the end is correct. Many people consider their beliefs as their identity. Problem is that their identity is frail, weak, shallow, surface. They haven’t anything else to tell them who they are. It’s the saddest condition.

[ryankv]

I love how well spoken he is, the way he thinks is amazing

[scottwills]

Damn, this kid is a natural. Gives me hope for humanity.

[Noa......]

I did not know you have a sense of humour. 😂

[a.l.michael]

I can think of a smart person who’s beliefs can sometimes be dumb: Ben Shapiro. No doubt he’s intelligent, but a lot of his views are centered around the fact that he’s part of a faith. He debates college kids who most definitely don’t know how to correctly stare their argument and he appears to be correct all of the time. But what I see in Alex that Ben lacks is his ability to be completely objective about really difficult/controversial issues. He coined the saying “facts don’t care about your feelings” but a lot of his arguments are centered around his feelings, but all of the time they’re presented as fact.

[toddglover]

This was incredibly insightful. I struggle when talking to hard headed members of my family and friends and this gave me a great perspective to look inward at my own ideas as well as outward at those I don't hold. I try to question everything but do hold notions that I don't criticize enough. Thank you.