Tag Archives: Rationality

Identifying Bias: It’s Not Just Bribes That Motivate

Posted on September 22, 2011 by AJ Kessler

I was reading the comments on this CNN article, titled “Experts Caution Against Stem Cell Treatments Abroad.”  They’re pretty typical of CNN comments: CorrDNEqCaus All I’m reading here is, “Don’t trust these treatments until we’re able to provide them and … Continue reading →

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Inherent Problems With Effective Philanthropy

Posted on September 3, 2011 by AJ Kessler

One is that in order to learn how to do something well, you have to fail sometimes. In order to fail, there has to be a measurement system. And that’s the problem with most philanthropy–there’s no measurement system. You give … Continue reading →

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Fake It ‘Til You Make It: Physiologically Sound

Posted on August 27, 2011 by AJ Kessler

From Psychology Today: The great surrealist artist Salvador Dali was described by his fellow students at the Madrid art academy as “morbidly” shy according to his biographer Ian Gibson.  He had a great fear of blushing and his shame about … Continue reading →

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What They’re Really Asking

Posted on August 26, 2011 by AJ Kessler

A lot of people don’t really want advice, they want you to tell them what decision to make, or they want permission to implement the decision they’ve selected. Recognize these people and these situations early. If you’re up to it, … Continue reading →

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Why Economists Are Wrong, or How Specialization Makes Us Unhappy

Posted on August 22, 2011 by AJ Kessler

We generally understand how specialization and competitive advantage make us all richer. Lawyers particularly, and I imagine other highly paid hourly workers, understand that the best use of their time is spent lawyering. For this reason, these professionals have an … Continue reading →

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It’s Always Incompetence

Posted on August 21, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Whenever an event can be explained by either a vast conspiracy or simple incompetence, always assume incompetence. This is merely a corollary to Hanlon’s Razor, but it can save you just as much anguish.

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Passion Does Not Cause Success

Posted on June 30, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Nearly everyone I went to law school with was there because they hadn’t figured out what they wanted to do with their lives.  It wasn’t that they were passionate about law, or putting bad guys away, or freeing the innocently … Continue reading →

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If You’re Going to Jail, Get There Early

Posted on April 20, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Lo and behold, judges aren’t always rational.  It turns out that judges hearing parole requests start out the day granting about 65% of them.  These numbers dwindle down to about 0% right before a judges break, then pop back up … Continue reading →

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