How to test yourself in the battle of ideas | Nicholas Christakis

New videos DAILY: https://bigth.ink Join Big Think Edge for exclusive video lessons from top thinkers and doers: https://bigth.ink/Edge ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When we're convinced in the truth of our ideas, we often believe if we just explain it to others that others will immediately come on board with them, says Nicholas Christakis. However, what we see in practice is that we need some resistance from others to help refine those ideas. In doing so, we make them more marketable in the marketplace of ideas. During debates, remember not to censor your opponents. We have to be confident enough to have discussions with them aimed at getting at the truth. When we prohibit the expression of ideas, we lose the chance to prove our ideas right—we lose the chance to advance their legitimacy in the court of public opinion. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NICHOLAS CHRISTAKIS Nicholas A. Christakis is a physician, sociologist, and director of the Human Nature Lab at Yale University, where he is the Sterling Professor of Social and Natural Science. His most recent book is Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society (March 2019). Follow him on Twitter @NAChristakis ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------