- Jun 2024
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study.diplomacy.edu study.diplomacy.edu
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hallucinations
Hallucitation, not hallucination, sorry! Spelling auto-correct failed to recognise this new coinage.
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- May 2024
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study.diplomacy.edu study.diplomacy.edu
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reveal patterns
The optional reading for this week looks at some of these patterns: those we find in word-sized story-capsules and those found in larger narrative units, from logical fallacies to science fiction.
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this emotional side
Emotions are indeed very important in building our opinions. We think of ourselves as rational but are often more driven by our gut-level attractions and aversions, drives and fears than we realise. I recommend Drew Westen's book 'The Political Brain' in which he explores what MRI scans reveal about our political 'reasoning.' His neurological research suggests that:
"None of the circuits involved in conscious reasoning were particularly engaged... Essentially, it appears as if partisans twirl the cognitive kaleidoscope until they get the conclusions they want... Everyone... may reason to emotionally biased judgments when they have a vested interest in how to interpret 'the facts"
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