Mistaking the Unintelligible for the Unintelligent
An inability to explain a practice does not establish that the practice lacks intelligence or value. Taleb warns against assuming that useful knowledge must have a reason we can readily articulate.
THE IDEA
Taleb distinguishes narrated, intelligible knowledge from opaque knowledge tested through tinkering. His Table 4 contrasts narrative and non-narrative action, but the table is not included here.
There is this error of thinking that things always have a reason that is accessible to us—that we can comprehend easily.
Indeed, the most severe mistake made in life is to mistake the unintelligible for the unintelligent—something Nietzsche figured out. In a way, it resembles the turkey problem, mistaking what we don’t see for the nonexistent, a sibling to mistaking absence of evidence for evidence of absence.
The excerpt also introduces Fat Tony’s view that the Athenians were justified in putting Socrates to death, but does not give his reasoning.
When to use it
When evaluating the expertise of someone from a different field, avoid assuming their knowledge is inferior because they cannot explain it clearly.
In business, be cautious of over-relying on narratives that simplify complex market behaviors.
In scientific inquiry, recognize that many phenomena may be too complex to explain in simple terms, yet are still real and impactful.
When learning new skills, accept that some tacit knowledge cannot be fully articulated.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Socrates' Death
The excerpt says that Fat Tony considers Socrates’ execution justified. It does not explain why, so it cannot support the claim that the Athenians executed him because they mistook unintelligible questioning for stupidity.
Poetry Explanation
Asking poets to explain their poetry is an example of this fallacy: we demand a rational explanation for art that is not produced by reasoning, and we dismiss it as unintelligent if it cannot be articulated.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
Can you recall a situation where you dismissed an idea as stupid simply because you couldn't understand its logic?
How can you distinguish between something that is truly unintelligent and something that is merely unintelligible to you?
In what ways does the demand for explanations hinder our understanding of complex systems?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Antifragile (Nassim Nicholas Taleb)