Conspicuous Cognition

Conspicuous Cognition

Share this post

Conspicuous Cognition
Conspicuous Cognition
The marketplace of good and bad ideas
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

The marketplace of good and bad ideas

On why the free exchange of ideas is a complex breeding ground for truth, appealing falsehoods, and self-serving rationalisations.

Dan Williams's avatar
Dan Williams
Mar 29, 2024
∙ Paid
48

Share this post

Conspicuous Cognition
Conspicuous Cognition
The marketplace of good and bad ideas
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
26
14
Share
a person stacking coins on top of a table

“Societally corrosive beliefs can persist when they are intuitively appealing or they serve some believers’ agendas” - Manvir Singh

I. The Marketplace of Ideas

According to some people, the truth will ultimately emerge from free and open debate within the “marketplace of ideas”. This is too optimistic. However, it contains an important grain of truth: whe…

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to Conspicuous Cognition to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Dan Williams
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share

Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More