When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows . . .

by Steven Pinker · 2026

Heard in 1 episode across 1 show since Aug 2026

From one of the world’s most celebrated intellectuals, a “fascinating” ( Financial Times ), brilliantly insightful work that explains how we think about each other’s thoughts about each other’s thoughts, ad infinitum. It sounds impossible, but Steven Pinker shows that we do it all the time. This awareness is called common knowledge , and it has a momentous impact on our social, political, and economic lives. Common knowledge is necessary for coordination , for making arbitrary but complementary choices like driving on the right and coalescing behind a political leader or movement.

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