EP 1329
1329. Steven Pinker: Outsmarting an Irrational World
In this episode of The Human Upgrade, Host Dave Asprey sits down with Steven Pinker, the Harvard cognitive psychologist and bestselling author whose research on language, bias, and human nature has shaped how we think about minds and society. They unpack why even smart people fall for the my-side bias, how “common knowledge” quietly drives social norms and cooperation, what today’s AI gets wrong about human cognition, and why liberal democracy fits human nature better than autocracy. You’ll hear practical tools for clearer thinking in a noisy world, from “steel-manning” and probabilistic reasoning to better social calibration on and off screens. Built for listeners who care about biohacking and human performance, this conversation connects rational thinking with real-world brain optimization, resilience, and better decisions.
Subscribe To The Human Upgrade
In this Episode of The Human Upgrade™...
Your brain isn’t as rational as you think, and that blind spot can wreck your decision-making, relationships, and even your health. In this episode, you’ll learn how to spot the hidden cognitive traps that even the smartest people fall for, and how to upgrade your thinking so you can perform better, live longer, and make choices that actually serve you.
Host Dave Asprey sits down with Steven Pinker, a world-renowned cognitive psychologist, Harvard professor, and bestselling author whose research reshaped how we understand language, bias, social norms, and rationality. Pinker’s decades of scholarship make him a trusted guide to the mechanics of the mind and the behaviors that either elevate or derail human performance and longevity.
Together they break down how the brain actually reasons, why smart people still fall for tribal thinking, what current AI gets wrong about human intelligence, and how “common knowledge” quietly governs cooperation, law, and civility. This is a masterclass in brain optimization through better thinking, built for people who care about biohacking, hacking mental models, neuroplasticity, and high-performance decision-making.
You’ll learn:
- How to recognize and counter the “my-side bias,” even if you’re highly intelligent
- Why common knowledge creates and sustains social norms and coordination
- The art of indirect speech and tact, and how to calibrate your words to reduce social risk
- Simple upgrades that make video calls feel closer to real eye contact and why that boosts trust
- What today’s AI gets wrong about minds and why models hallucinate
- Rational habits that work in the real world: steelmanning, probabilistic thinking, adversarial collaboration, and making bets as a tax on bad arguments
- Why liberal democracy fits human nature better than autocracy and how norms erode or hold
- How to rebuild face-to-face social skills in a screen-first culture to improve resilience and performance
This is essential listening for fans of biohacking, brain optimization, human performance, neuroplasticity, and longevity who want clear, usable frameworks to think better and live better with Dave Asprey.
Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners,?The Human Upgrade brings you the knowledge to take control of your biology, extend your longevity, and optimize every system in your body and mind. Each episode delivers cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, biohacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living.
New episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday (audio-only), and Sunday (BONUS). Dave asks the questions no one else will and gives you real tools to become stronger, smarter, and more resilient.
Keywords: Steven Pinker, cognitive psychology, rational thinking, my-side bias, human nature, common knowledge, cognitive bias, AI and human intelligence, democracy and human behavior, social norms psychology, decision-making hacks, brain optimization, biohacking the mind, mental performance, neuroplasticity, rationality movement, bias and longevity, functional intelligence, Human Upgrade podcast, Dave Asprey, thinking traps, steelmanning, epistemic humility, outrage economy, psychology of power, critical thinking upgrade, hacking human performance
Thank you to our sponsors!
- KILLSwitch | If you’re ready for the best sleep of your life, order now at https://www.switchsupplements.com/ and use code DAVE for 20% off.
- Timeline | Head to https://www.timeline.com/dave to get 10% off your first order.
- Our Place | Head to https://fromourplace.com/ and use the code DAVE for 10% off your order.
**Order Steven’s new book WHEN EVERYONE KNOWS THAT EVERYONE KNOWS…: COMMON KNOWLEDGE AND THE MYSTERIES OF MONEY, POWER, AND EVERYDAY LIFE: HTTPS://TINYURL.COM/V685EVZR
“If men were angels, no government would be necessary. But we’re saddled with cognitive flaws and self-centered biases, so if you empower a human with all the flaws that come with being human, things are bound to go wrong.”
Steven Pinker
0:00 — Trailer
A preview of what you’ll learn in this episode about rationality, human nature, and thinking clearly.
0:59 — Introduction
Steven Pinker introduces himself as a cognitive psychologist and frames his lifelong interest in how the mind works.
1:58 — Human Nature
Pinker explains how debates about human generosity, selfishness, peace, and violence shaped his early curiosity.
3:30 — Cognitive Psychology
How the rise of cognitive science connected psychology with AI, linguistics, and neuroscience.
5:46 — Academia Path
Why Pinker chose academia and how he built a career around curiosity and teaching.
7:32 — Canada vs. U.S.
The cultural contrasts and intellectual climate that shaped Pinker’s perspective growing up in Canada.
8:42 — College Value
Why higher education still matters for building systematic thinking and intellectual discipline.
12:08 — Curiosity
Pinker’s methods for sustaining lifelong intellectual curiosity across different fields.
15:25 — Government & Humans
Why democracy works better than autocracy when viewed through the lens of human nature and bias.
19:56 — AI & Cognition
What today’s AI models get right and wrong about how human intelligence operates.
24:45 — Fairness & Justice
The psychology behind fairness, karma, and the “just world hypothesis.”
32:56 — Social Norms
How rules, laws, and cultural norms emerge and shape human cooperation and civility.
47:12 — Communication Skills
Why indirect speech, tact, and “weasel words” play a critical role in social interactions.
55:32 — Virtual Society
The hidden costs of digital communication and why face-to-face contact is irreplaceable.
57:20 — Personal Biases
Pinker reveals the cognitive biases he personally struggles with and tools to overcome them.
Resources:
- Steven’s Website: https://stevenpinker.com/
- Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/DAVE15
- Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com
- Dave Asprey’s New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated
- Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com
- Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com
- 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com
Enjoy the show!
LISTEN:
“Follow” or “subscribe” to The Human Upgrade™ with Dave Asprey on your favorite podcast platform.
REVIEW:
Go to Apple Podcasts at daveasprey.com/apple and leave a (hopefully) 5-star rating and a creative review.
FEEDBACK:
Got a comment, idea or question for the podcast? Submit via this form!
SOCIAL:
Follow @thehumanupgradepodcast on Instagram and Facebook.
JOIN:
Learn directly from Dave Asprey alongside others in a membership group: ourupgradecollective.com.
Subscribe To The Human Upgrade
Similar Episodes
Subscribe To The Human Upgrade
BOOKS
4X NEW YORK TIMES
BEST-SELLING SCIENCE AUTHOR
Smarter
Not Harder
Smarter Not Harder: The Biohacker’s Guide to Getting the Body and Mind You Want is about helping you to become the best version of yourself by embracing laziness while increasing your energy and optimizing your biology.
Also Available
