Ep122 "Why do we so rarely say what we mean?" (with Steven Pinker)

In this episode of Inner Cosmos, David Eagleman interviews Steven Pinker about his new book on common knowledge, exploring how shared awareness and understanding impact human behavior and society. They discuss how common knowledge facilitates coordination, from simple interactions like meeting up to complex systems like currency and political movements. The conversation covers instances where common knowledge is intentionally avoided through innuendo and euphemisms to maintain social relationships, as well as the dangers of false common knowledge and the role of anonymity in cancel culture. Pinker also shares insights on body language and social signals as common knowledge generators, highlighting the importance of shared awareness in shaping social norms and interactions.