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Hidden Brain · May 19, 2025 · 50m

How Much Do We Really Know?

Phil Fernbach on the illusion of explanatory depth — we think we understand far more than we actually do. Most people can't explain how a toilet works, a zipper operates, or why their political positions are correct — but they're confident they can.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

The illusion of explanatory depth — you understand far less than you think
Fernbach's research: when asked to explain how everyday things work (toilets, zippers, policies), people's confidence drops dramatically. We confuse familiarity with understanding.
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