Making Sense with Sam Harris #268 — The Limits of Self-Knowledge
17 snips
Nov 24, 2021 
In this enlightening discussion, Stephen Fleming, a cognitive neuroscience professor at University College London and author of "Know Thyself: The Science of Self-Awareness," delves into the intricacies of self-awareness. They explore the fascinating yet flawed nature of metacognition and how it ties to intelligence. Topics include the challenges of error monitoring, self-deception, and maintaining self-awareness under stress. Fleming sheds light on the neural processes behind our inner dialogues and the crucial role of social interactions in shaping our self-perception.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Stress and Self-Awareness
- Stephen Fleming discusses how studying metacognition has increased his self-awareness.
- He acknowledges that stress can impair metacognition, making it harder to recognize behavioral changes.
Knowing That You Know
- Metacognition encompasses knowing what you know, even without immediate recall.
- This applies to various knowledge types, from semantic to procedural memory.
Metacognition vs. IQ
- Surprisingly, classic IQ tests do not strongly predict metacognitive ability.
- Metacognition and intelligence seem to rely on somewhat distinct cognitive resources.
