A framework for thinking about problems in society

I recently read What’s Our Problem by Tim Urban. This great book begins with a framework that describes how people think in today’s society.

This post breaks down the framework and explains how we can use it to help make decisions about societal and political issues.

Two types of thinking

There are two types of thinking: Higher-Mind and Primitive-Mind. Higher-Mind thinking seeks truth based on evidence, while Primitive-Mind thinking leans on experience and emotions. Each of us engages in both types of thinking based on the topic.

Idea Spectrum

The Idea Spectrum can be considered a graph. The horizontal axis describes what you think, and the vertical axis describes how you think.

For example, take the statement “Billionaires are evil.” On the horizontal axis (I’ll explain the vertical axis more below), the far left represents “Yes,” while the far right represents “No.” However, this isn’t simply a true or false statement, as nuance exists in how people arrive at those views and, we can be somewhere in the middle.

The Ladder

The vertical axis of the Idea Spectrum can be broken down further into what Tim calls “The Ladder.”

This “Ladder” has four rungs. Each rung represents a different type of thinking:

• The Scientist questions everything and seeks the truth.
• The Sports Fan accepts the rules of the game but wants their team to win.
• The Attorney strives to prove their point is the truth, even when its not.
• The Zealot refuses everything that contradicts their opinions and beliefs.

We all think on various rungs of the ladder about different things at different times. We don’t strictly function as a “Scientist” or always as a “Zealot.” Reality isn’t that simple. Our past knowledge and experience play a big part in how we think about a particular topic. How much a topic impacts you personally, based on your experience, may also influence your thinking.

The more emotions become involved, the more likely we think on the lower rungs of the ladder, while detachment may allow us to think more like a Scientist and find the facts.

Thinking in Groups

Since society is made up of people on various sides of the horizontal axis of the Idea Spectrum, as well as on the vertical axis of The Ladder (described above), group dynamics become quite fascinating—and often messy.

When high and mid-rung thinkers gather, they generally seek the truth (or at least compromise) while showing respect for people they disagree with. Tim calls this group an “Idea Lab.”

When low and mid-rung thinkers gather, they form what is commonly called an “Echo Chamber.” They treat their opinions as facts and do not respect people who state otherwise. Emotions take over, and the lower they are on “The Ladder”, the more blind to different ideas they become.

Emerging from these Echo Chambers, Tim talks about a “golem” who tend to take on a life of their own. They define ideas blindly, frequently can’t even explain what they’re fighting for.

Applying the framework

How can we use this framework to make better, more informed opinions?

We can easily get caught up in our emotions when dealing with societal issues. These emotional reactions tell us a lot about ourselves. After all, we wouldn’t have an emotional reaction to something if we didn’t have some skin in the game.

At the same time, awareness of how we think and react can go a long way. We can take a step back to see which rung of “The Ladder” we’re on.

We can also ask ourselves questions like, “Is this coming from someone acting as a golem?”, “Where are the facts?”, “Am I seeking truth or confirmation of my beliefs?”, and “Can I even explain to someone why I think this?”

Don’t get too caught up in all of this

The last point I want to make is for myself as much as anyone. Don’t let this consume us! While it’s valuable to understand society and politics, obsessing over it can wear us down—especially when we’re stuck in social media or legacy media loops. Those Echo Chambers don’t help. Instead, limit our consumption, read books on topics we’re interested in, and keep learning. But realize, we can’t control it all!