Max Planck

The Two Types of Knowledge: The Max Planck/Chauffeur Test

Charlie Munger, the billionaire business partner of Warren Buffett, frequently tells the story below to illustrate how to distinguish between the two types of knowledge: real knowledge and pretend …

The Half-life of Facts

Facts change all the time. Smoking has gone from doctor recommended to deadly. We used to think the Earth was the center of the universe and that Pluto was a planet. For decades we were convinced that …

The Human Mind has a Shut-Off Device

Once you’ve formed a belief, adding exceptions and justifications becomes easier than updating it. Ryan Holiday writes about this in Trust Me, I’m Lying: Once the mind has accepted a …