On Wisdom

Charles Cassidy and Igor Grossmann
  • 4.9 (15)
  • Social Sciences
  • Updated Monthly

What does it actually take to think wisely? On Wisdom digs into the empirical science of wisdom, judgment, and decision-making, and what it means for how we live. Igor Grossmann runs the Wisdom & Culture Lab at the University of Waterloo. Charles Cassidy runs the Evidence-Based Wisdom project in London. Each episode pairs freewheeling conversation with guest spots from leading behavioural scientists working on reasoning, wellbeing, culture, and society. Past guests include Adam Grant, Jonathan Haidt, Paul Bloom, Shannon Vallor, Lisa Barrett, David Dunning, Mara Mather, Tom Gilovich, Laura Carstensen, Oliver Burkeman, Simine Vazire, Dacher Keltner, and more. This autumn: a five-episode special series built around the first Annual Review of Psychology chapter on wisdom since 2011, featuring fifteen scholars on narrative, metacognition, measurement, training, and the neuroscience of wise decisions.

  1. 11/16/2025

    The Wisdom Turing Test - Part Two (with Steve Rathje)

    What can insights from the psychology of technology teach us about wisdom in the age of AI? In this special follow-up episode, Igor and Charles are joined by Steve Rathje to explore how classic ideas like the Turing Test hold up now that AI can talk compellingly about human wisdom. Steve unpacks what today’s generative models are actually capable of, Igor is intrigued by how quickly the line between human and machine reasoning seems to be blurring, and Charles realises that telling human insight from machine insight isn’t nearly as straightforward as he'd hoped. The trio also reveal the results of our listener poll — who sounded the wisest, and was the audience able to spot the AI? Welcome to Episode 67. Special Guest: Steve Rathje.

  2. 10/26/2025

    The Wisdom Turing Test - Part One

    What happens when we ask our own fantastic listeners — and AI — what it means to live wisely? In this episode, Igor and Charles hand the mic to members of the On Wisdom audience to hear their answers to the big questions usually reserved for scientists and philosophers. But there’s a twist: one set of responses was provided by AI. We invite you to vote on who gave the wisest answers — and to guess which one wasn’t human. Igor is surprised by just how insightful the answers from the regular folk (compared to experts) turn out to be, while Charles wonders if the wisest one may not be human at all? Can you pass the Wisdom Turing Test? Welcome to Episode 66. Link to Listener Poll here

  3. 05/08/2025

    Religion as Make-Believe (with Neil Van Leeuwen)

    Is religious belief a form of make-believe — and if so, what deeper truths might we be acting out? Neil Van Leeuwen joins Igor and Charles to explore the psychological roots of religion, the nature of belief, and how sacred values shape group identity. Igor reflects on the blurring line between religious and political convictions, Neil argues that religious credence operates more like imaginative play than factual belief, and Charles considers whether conspiracy theories might be filling the same social and psychological roles. Welcome to Episode 65. Special Guest: Neil Van Leeuwen.

  4. 03/12/2025

    The Potency and Potential of Social Networks (with Nicholas Christakis)

    Are your choices really your own — or are they quietly shaped by the people around you? Nicholas Christakis joins Igor and Charles to reveal the hidden power of social networks, from the surprising spread of kindness and cooperation to the ripple effects that shape our health, decisions, and even our wisdom. Igor uncovers the invisible social forces influencing our daily lives, Nicholas shares how our deep-rooted instincts for love, friendship, and teaching have shaped human civilization, and Charles considers how tapping into these instincts could help us build stronger, wiser communities. Welcome to Episode 64. Special Guest: Nicholas Christakis.

  5. 02/23/2025

    The AI Mirror: Why Machines Reflect Us More Than They Think (with Shannon Vallor)

    Can AI ever be truly wise, or are we just seeing reflections of ourselves? Philosophy Professor Shannon Vallor joins Igor and Charles to explore how technology shapes human wisdom, why we’ve been thinking about AI all wrong, and what it really means to align machines with our values. Shannon unpacks the AI Mirror metaphor, suggesting that today’s AI isn’t a thinking mind but a reflection of human data, Igor considers whether technology could ever help us become wiser rather than just more efficient, and Charles wonders if philosophy can guide better decisions in a world increasingly shaped by algorithms. Welcome to Episode 63. Special Guest: Shannon Vallor.

  6. 12/09/2024

    Experimental Philosophy: Testing the Limits of Wisdom and Knowledge (with Edouard Machery)

    What happens when philosophers start running experiments? Edouard Machery joins Igor and Charles to explain the principles of experimental philosophy, the surprising geography of wisdom, and why we should be skeptical about trusting science too much. Igor digs into what's universal vs what's local about how we think, Edouard explains why bad habits keep creeping into research, and Charles wonders if philosophy can support wise decisions around ordering another glass of wine when out with friends. Welcome to Episode 62.

  7. 11/10/2024

    Beyond Bias: Group Identity, Wisdom, and the Climate Crisis (with Leaf Van Boven and David Sherman)

    Can our political identities get in the way of wise action, even on existential issues like climate change? Leaf Van Boven and David Sherman join Igor and Charles to unpack how we perceive environmental policy through the lenses of group identity and social norms, revealing how misperceptions fuel inaction. Igor considers how group beliefs can override personal values, Leaf explores the power of asking, “What if I’m wrong?”, David suggests we may be following louder voices over wiser ones, and Charles wonders if we’re wired to stick to our “tribe” or if we can really think beyond our social bubbles. Welcome to Episode 61. Special Guests: David Sherman and Leaf Van Boven.

  8. 10/20/2024

    Wisdom, Love, and the Lexical Fallacy (with Alan Fiske)

    Why do we have such a hard time figuring out what we’re feeling? Alan Fiske joins Igor and Charles to unravel the mystery of emotions, revealing why your gut feeling might not be as clear-cut as you think. Drawing from his research into Kama Muta—a heartwarming rush of connection—and his critiques of how we label emotions, Alan sheds light on why most of us are pretty terrible at naming what we feel. Igor tackles the complexities of universal emotions, Alan shares why cultural differences make this even trickier, and Charles wonders if anyone truly knows what’s going on inside their head. Welcome to Episode 60. Special Guest: Alan Fiske.

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About

What does it actually take to think wisely? On Wisdom digs into the empirical science of wisdom, judgment, and decision-making, and what it means for how we live. Igor Grossmann runs the Wisdom & Culture Lab at the University of Waterloo. Charles Cassidy runs the Evidence-Based Wisdom project in London. Each episode pairs freewheeling conversation with guest spots from leading behavioural scientists working on reasoning, wellbeing, culture, and society. Past guests include Adam Grant, Jonathan Haidt, Paul Bloom, Shannon Vallor, Lisa Barrett, David Dunning, Mara Mather, Tom Gilovich, Laura Carstensen, Oliver Burkeman, Simine Vazire, Dacher Keltner, and more. This autumn: a five-episode special series built around the first Annual Review of Psychology chapter on wisdom since 2011, featuring fifteen scholars on narrative, metacognition, measurement, training, and the neuroscience of wise decisions.

Information

  • Creator
    Charles Cassidy and Igor Grossmann
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2025
  • Episodes
    67
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Igor Grossmann & Charles Cassidy
  • Show Website
    On Wisdom