The learning mechanism in the human brain is not yet equipped to deal with information meant to deceive or manipulate. Armed with a computational approach to civilization but lacking the ability to discern fact from fiction, we find ourselves at the precipice of a new digital world for which we may not be prepared. 

To reveal how human cognition processes information, Harvesting Happiness Podcast host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with the T. Jefferson Coolidge Professor of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University, Dr. Leslie Valiant. 

Leslie discusses a human’s predisposition to accept the information we ingest as truth and explains the central tenet of his newest book, The Importance of Being Educable: A New Theory of Human Uniqueness. 

Leslie Valiant PhD — Absorbent Minds

•  Defining Educable from Leslie’s book, The Importance of Being Educable: A New Theory of Human Uniqueness. {2:45}
•  A computational approach to human civilization in a digital world. {13:27}
•  A human’s absorbent mind is mentally unprotected from bad ideas. {19:38}
•  The Fairness Doctrine was a good approach that ensured trustworthy information. {27:16}
•  Strategies to remain educable. {31:53} 

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