I recently read What's Our Problem by Tim Urban. This insightful book begins with a framework describing how people think in today's society.
This post breaks down the framework and explains how to use it for societal and political decision making.
Two types of thinking
There are two types of thinking: Higher-Mind and Primitive-Mind. Higher-Mind seeks truth based on evidence, while Primitive-Mind leans on experience and emotions. We engage in both types based on the topic.
Idea Spectrum
The Idea Spectrum is 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." The horizontal axis (vertical axis explanation below) has "Yes" on the far left and "No" on the far right. However, this isn't a true or false statement, as nuance exists in how people arrive at those views and we can be in a more complex position.
The Ladder
The vertical axis can be broken down into what Tim calls "The Ladder."
This "Ladder" has four rungs, each representing a different type of thinking:
- The Scientist questions everything and seeks the truth.
- The Sports Fan accepts the game rules and wants their team to succeed.
- The Attorney strives to prove their point is the truth, even when it’s incorrect.
- The Zealot refuses anything that contradicts their opinions and beliefs.
We think on different rungs of the ladder at different times. We don't strictly function as a "Scientist" or "Zealot." Reality isn't that simple. Our past knowledge and experience shape our thinking on a topic. How much it impacts you personally may also influence your thinking.
The more emotions are involved, the more likely we think on the lower rungs of the ladder. However, detachment allows us to think like a scientist and find the facts.
Thinking in Groups
Society consists of people on various sides of the Idea Spectrum’s horizontal axis and The Ladder’s vertical axis, making group dynamics interesting and complex.
When high and mid-rung thinkers gather, they seek the truth (or compromise) while respecting people they disagree with. Tim calls this group an "Idea Lab."
When low and mid-rung thinkers gather, they form an "Echo Chamber." They treat their opinions as facts and do not respect opposing views. Emotions take over, and the lower they are on "The Ladder," the more blind they become.
Tim talks about a "golem" who takes on a life of its own as it emerges from these Echo Chambers. They define ideas blindly and can't explain what they're fighting for.
Applying the framework
How can we use this framework to form better, more informed opinions?
When dealing with societal issues, we can get caught up in our emotions. These emotional reactions reveal a lot about ourselves. We wouldn't react emotionally if we had no investment in the situation.
Awareness of our thinking and reactions can be helpful. We can step back to see which rung of "The Ladder" we're on.
We can ask, "Is this from someone acting as a golem?", "Where are the facts?", "Am I seeking truth or confirmation of my beliefs?", and "Can I explain to someone why I think this?"
Don't get involved.
The last point is for myself and others. Don’t let this consume us! While it’s valuable to understand society and politics, obsessing over it can wear us down—especially 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. Realize, we can’t control everything!
