YOUR NONPROFIT RESOURCE FOR ARTS IN MARIN

There are no recent bookmarks.

Please Note: This event has expired.

Livestreamed Event

LOCAL>> Shankar Vedantam – Useful Delusions

Presented by Commonwealth Club at Streaming Arts

Apr 01 2021
LOCAL>> Shankar Vedantam – Useful Delusions

Radio/podcast host and author discusses his book about neuroscience

Celebrate April Fool’s Day by joining us for a virtual discussion with Shankar Vedantam about how useful fooling ourselves can actually be.

It is of course clear that self-deception does terrible harm to ourselves, to our communities and to the planet. But if it is so irretrievably bad for us, why is it so ubiquitous?

Paradoxically, Vedantam argues that self-deception also plays a vital role in our successes and our well-being.

Most of us are at least vaguely aware that the lies we tell ourselves lubricate our daily interactions with our friends, lovers and co-workers. But those lies can also explain why some people live longer than others, why some couples remain in love and others don’t, and why some nations hold together while others splinter.

Drawing on new insights in psychology, neuroscience and philosophy in his book Useful Delusions, Vendantam comes to the fascinating conclusion that, if we were just honest about our lies, we might begin to understand ourselves, and our human lives, much better.

ADMISSION INFO

$10 – General Admission
$27.95 – General Admission + book

Free for members, with registration

Additional time info:

3:00 pm PT

CONNECT WITH Commonwealth Club

    Email
/
    Website
/