Summary: In this long-form explainer, we blend the best-available evidence with plain language. You’ll see what research currently supports, where experts disagree, and how to apply the insights in everyday decisions.
What we know right now
Some questions are empirical and hinge on repeatable observation; others are conceptual and hinge on how we define terms and values. Understanding which parts are facts and which are frameworks is a shortcut to clearer thinking.
We prioritize converging evidence from peer‑reviewed journals, textbooks, and respected encyclopedias. When claims are uncertain, we mark them as such and offer decision‑making heuristics instead of false certainty.
Why smart people disagree
Reasonable people disagree because they optimize for different goals: truth, usefulness, comfort, or safety. Surfacing those trade‑offs explicitly helps you calibrate your own view without hostility or dogma.
Useful mental models
- Define key terms up front so debates aren’t about hidden definitions.
- Separate description (what is) from prescription (what matters).
- Prefer multiple lines of evidence over single studies.
- Use expected value thinking under uncertainty.
- Write down what would change your mind before you see the evidence.
Further reading
Start here: https://www.science.org/
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Books & tools
- Recommended book: relevant title (placeholder affiliate)
- Share this explainer with someone curious — teaching is the best test of understanding.