#cognition

The inconsistencies that haunt our relationships with animals also result from the quirks of human cognition. We like to think of ourselves as the rational species. But research in cognitive psychology and behavioral economics shows that our thinking and behavior are often completely illogical. In one study, for example, groups of people were independently asked how much they would give to prevent waterfowl from being killed in polluted oil ponds. On average, the subjects said they would pay $80 to save 2,000 birds, $78 to save 20,000 birds, and $88 to save 200,000 birds. Sometimes animals act more logically than people do; a recent study found that when picking a new home, the decisions of ant colonies were more rational than those of human house-hunters. What is it about human psychology that makes it so difficult for us to think consistently about animals? The paradoxes that plague our interactions with other species are due to the fact that much of our thinking is a mire of instinct, learning, language, culture, intuition, and our reliance on mental shortcuts. ↗

— Hal Herzog

#behavior #charity #cognition #decision-making #ethics

I always felt like there was a certain standard of music that I had to do from the beginning, even when I didn't have the recognition that I have now. ↗

— Kendrick Lamar

#beginning #certain #even #felt #had

Happy indeed is the scientist who not only has the pleasures which I have enumerated, but who also wins the recognition of fellow scientists and of the mankind which ultimately benefits from his endeavors. ↗

— Irving Langmuir

#benefits #endeavors #enumerated #fellow #happy

For it goes without saying that this great recognition at this time will aid tremendously our efforts to find the necessarily large funds for the next voyage of exploration farther into the depths of the atom. ↗

— Ernest Lawrence

#atom #depths #efforts #exploration #farther

The recognition factor is so much higher when I'm a redhead, so when I'm a blonde I can pass under the radar a lot more easily. ↗

— Cynthia Nixon

#easily #factor #higher #i #i can

Enter every activity without giving mental recognition to the possibility of defeat. Concentrate on your strengths, instead of your weaknesses... on your powers, instead of your problems. ↗

— Paul J. Meyer

#concentrate #defeat #enter #every #giving

I think what you're seeing is a profound recognition on the part of the American people that gays and lesbians and transgender persons are our brothers, our sisters, our children, our cousins, our friends, our co-workers, and that they've got to be treated like every other American. And I think that principle will win out. ↗

— Barack Obama

#american people #brothers #children #co-workers #cousins

The very idea of marriage is basic to recognition as equals in our society; any status short of that is inferior, unjust, and unconstitutional. ↗

— Ted Olson

#basic #equals #idea #inferior #marriage

I've come to recognize what I call my 'inside interests.' Telling stories. And helping people tell their stories is a sort of interpersonal gardening. My work at NBC News was to report the news, but in hindsight, I often tried to look for some insight to share that might spark a moment of recognition in a viewer. ↗

— Jane Pauley

#come #gardening #helping #helping people #hindsight

Appraisals are where you get together with your team leader and agree what an outstanding member of the team you are, how much your contribution has been valued, what massive potential you have and, in recognition of all this, would you mind having your salary halved. ↗

— Theodore Roosevelt

#been #contribution #get #get together #halved