Death and Story-Telling (with A.J. Jacobs)
1. Embrace Probabilistic Thinking
Cultivate a mindset of doubt and skepticism, thinking in probabilities rather than certainties, as this is crucial for intelligent decision-making and adapting to new evidence.
2. Hold Shallow-Seated Beliefs
Treat most beliefs as shallow-seated and open to revision based on new evidence, reserving deep-seated conviction only for fundamental values like reducing suffering and increasing happiness.
3. Adjust Beliefs to Evidence
View ‘flip-flopping’ as a positive trait, actively adjusting your beliefs and positions when presented with new or compelling evidence, aligning with Bayesian thinking.
4. Introspect to Discover Values
Engage in careful introspection to identify your true intrinsic values—those things you care about for their own sake—and then strive to maximize them in your life.
5. Weigh Certainty & Consequences
When making decisions, especially on complex issues like medical advice or climate change, evaluate the percentage of your certainty against the potential consequences of acting or not acting.
6. Manage Expectations Probabilistically
Apply probabilistic thinking to daily events, like traffic lights, to manage expectations; this reduces frustration when outcomes don’t align with a 100% certainty.
7. Build Stories from Evidence
When communicating or understanding narratives, prioritize starting with evidence and then constructing a story around it, rather than creating a story and seeking evidence to fit it.
8. Practice Gratitude & Reframing
Actively practice gratitude for everyday things and reframe mundane moments, like waiting in line, by appreciating simple details to enhance overall happiness.
9. Appreciate Simple Joys
Cultivate happiness in real life by finding ways to appreciate what you already have and enjoying the simple, often overlooked, aspects of daily existence.
10. Conduct Life Story Interviews
Interview loved ones, especially older family members or those nearing the end of their lives, about their childhood, views, and wisdom to create a meaningful legacy and gain insights.
11. Plan Eco-Friendly Body Disposal
Consider and plan for environmentally sound methods of body disposal, such as mushroom suits or green liquid processes, rather than traditional burials.
12. Donate Organs to Science
Consider donating your organs to science or for medical training, as this provides a beneficial use for your body after death.
13. Commission Commemorative Media
Instead of traditional burial costs, commission a book or video about a deceased person to create a lasting and meaningful way to remember them.
14. Plant a Commemorative Tree
Honor someone’s life by planting a tree in their name, potentially using their body as fertilizer, as a living memorial to visit.
15. Create Multimedia Memorial Displays
Advocate for or create modern memorial spaces that incorporate multimedia displays, holograms, or interactive videos to share life advice and memories of the deceased.
16. Assign Percentages to Beliefs
Get into the habit of assigning a percentage of certainty to your beliefs, even for seemingly obvious facts, as a hedge against fundamentalism.
17. Track Predictions for Calibration
Use tools like Prediction Book or ‘Calibrate Your Judgment’ to track your probabilistic predictions and improve your accuracy over time.
18. Downgrade Beliefs with Evidence
Be prepared to slightly downgrade even strongly held beliefs when presented with small pieces of counter-evidence, recognizing that optimal thinking involves constant, subtle adjustments.
19. Accept Inherent Uncertainty
Understand that 100% certainty is generally unattainable for most beliefs, and strive for increasing levels of confidence rather than absolute conviction.
20. Avoid Fundamentalist Thinking
Use probabilistic thinking as a safeguard against fundamentalism, recognizing that rigid, 100% certain beliefs can be dangerous and lead to harmful outcomes.
21. Take Intrinsic Values Test
Utilize the ‘Intrinsic Values Test’ on ClearerThinking.org to help identify and understand your personal intrinsic values.
22. Appreciate ‘Boring’ Stories
Actively work to recalibrate your brain to find ‘boring’ stories—those without clear villains or dramatic individual heroes—interesting, as they often reflect complex realities.
23. Question Fictional Endings
When consuming fiction, reflect on what happens after the ‘happy ending’ to develop a more realistic understanding of life’s ongoing challenges and complexities.