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June 25, 2025 15 mins

What if the biggest obstacle to recognizing genius today... is our own brain?

In the final installment of our "The Genius Illusion" trilogy, George and Alice explore the psychological and structural reasons for our nostalgia for a past filled with giants. Discover how cognitive biases, like "survivorship bias," systematically polish history to make it seem brighter than it truly was.

This episode finally reveals where genius is hiding in the 21st century: not in solitary heroes, but in collaborative networks and complex systems. Don't miss the conclusion of this debate that will change the way you see our modern world, all while enriching your English vocabulary on psychology and innovation.


Sources:

Wald, A. (1943). A Method of Estimating Plane Vulnerability Based on Damage of Survivors. Statistical Research Group, Columbia University.

The Decision Lab. (2021, 11 octobre). Survivorship bias. The Decision Labhttps://thedecisionlab.com/biases/survivorship-bias

Roese, N. J., & Vohs, K. D. (2012). Hindsight bias. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 7(5), 411–426. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691612454303

Halbwachs, M. (1992). On collective memory. University of Chicago Press.

London, J. (1909). Martin Eden. Macmillan.

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