Why We Think We Understand the World More Than We Actually Do
Why do we think we understand the world more than we actually do?
We often believe we grasp how everyday things work, from toilets to bike gears, until we try to explain them. This illusion of explanatory depth reveals our knowledge is far shallower than we assume. When forced to detail our understanding, we realize our opinions are often based on feelings rather than facts, leading to polarized views and poor decisions.
Studies show that those who are more passionate about a certain cause actually often know less about it.