System 2

Notes

Claim

System 2, as opposed to Automatic thinking processes drive fast emotional responses represents our rational thinking. This is a slow and costly process, however it is useful for complex situations that can't be handled through an automated basic response.

Explanation

This system enables all that we are familiar with as an "intelligible species". Our ability to avoid Emotional hijacking is uncontrolled System 1 dominance over reasoning, activating both of our Executive Attention Network and our Default Mode Network are dependent on the existence of system 2.

Why it matters

Examples

Supporters

Opposers

However, this doesn't mean that system 2 is perfect and should be the only way of thinking at all times. Left unchecked, using only system 2 can lead to excess use of We justify our conclusions after acting, not before, where we justify ourselves no matter what, and turns ourselves into Econs are purely rational agents who maximize utility that operate solely by cold calculations. Patients who have lost their system 1 have a very cold and calculated way of seeing the world, while also lacking Intrinsic motivation drives action through internal alignment and passion to act, even according with things they agree in, as if our morality is somehow imbued at least partially in our emotions Morality is both rational and emotional.

Open questions

There's also a real question about System 2's reach — some decisions do seem to come from somewhere reason can't fully account for, a felt sense of rightness rather than a chain of logic Acting before understanding requires trusting instinct and resonance. Is that a genuine limit on analytical thinking, or just intuition doing the analysis so fast it doesn't feel like System 2 anymore?

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