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Challenging your Assumptions | Daniel Nuttall | TEDxPrioryAcademyLSST


[Applause]

[Applause] whenever you engage in an important

whenever you engage in an important

whenever you engage in an important discussion you’re going to have to

discussion you’re going to have to

discussion you’re going to have to answer one particular question what do

answer one particular question what do

answer one particular question what do you think well what do you think it’s

you think well what do you think it’s

you think well what do you think it’s not always an easy question to answer

not always an easy question to answer

not always an easy question to answer you may not feel like you have all the

you may not feel like you have all the

you may not feel like you have all the information available and you may find

information available and you may find

information available and you may find yourself reverting back to snapshots of

yourself reverting back to snapshots of

yourself reverting back to snapshots of arguments to emotive statements or

arguments to emotive statements or

arguments to emotive statements or headlines or slogans take like this now

headlines or slogans take like this now

headlines or slogans take like this now although the most of you were too young

although the most of you were too young

although the most of you were too young to vote I’m sure you all got swept along

to vote I’m sure you all got swept along

to vote I’m sure you all got swept along in the EU referendum debate and this was

in the EU referendum debate and this was

in the EU referendum debate and this was the baby that was characterized by these

the baby that was characterized by these

the baby that was characterized by these kinds of slogans and headlines really

kinds of slogans and headlines really

kinds of slogans and headlines really trying to appeal to your emotions you

trying to appeal to your emotions you

trying to appeal to your emotions you all sort of deeper feelings and this in

all sort of deeper feelings and this in

all sort of deeper feelings and this in many ways can be dangerous the EU

many ways can be dangerous the EU

many ways can be dangerous the EU referendum saw many people have you want

referendum saw many people have you want

referendum saw many people have you want to think and when you’re surrounded by

to think and when you’re surrounded by

to think and when you’re surrounded by this kind of narrative it becomes

this kind of narrative it becomes

this kind of narrative it becomes incredibly difficult to ensure the

incredibly difficult to ensure the

incredibly difficult to ensure the opinions that you therefore whole are

opinions that you therefore whole are

opinions that you therefore whole are the ones that you truly believe in ones

the ones that you truly believe in ones

the ones that you truly believe in ones that are based on facts and information

that are based on facts and information

that are based on facts and information and not your emotions the reality is

and not your emotions the reality is

and not your emotions the reality is that all of these opinions

that all of these opinions

that all of these opinions exhibit a number of common

exhibit a number of common

exhibit a number of common characteristics they’re going to be

characteristics they’re going to be

characteristics they’re going to be limited they’re going to be

limited they’re going to be

limited they’re going to be sensationalized they’re going to be a

sensationalized they’re going to be a

sensationalized they’re going to be a motive they’re going to be bias because

motive they’re going to be bias because

motive they’re going to be bias because nobody can tell you the whole story and

nobody can tell you the whole story and

nobody can tell you the whole story and therefore go tell your story they want

therefore go tell your story they want

therefore go tell your story they want you to hear and i’m going to use the

you to hear and i’m going to use the

you to hear and i’m going to use the information that’s going to heal to the

information that’s going to heal to the

information that’s going to heal to the most the emotive and sensational parts

most the emotive and sensational parts

most the emotive and sensational parts of any debate to really get to you and

of any debate to really get to you and

of any debate to really get to you and that leads to a situation like this now

that leads to a situation like this now

that leads to a situation like this now these two headlines are about the same

these two headlines are about the same

these two headlines are about the same event but they could hardly be more

event but they could hardly be more

event but they could hardly be more different and that’s because all of this

different and that’s because all of this

different and that’s because all of this leads to a situation where we get a

leads to a situation where we get a

leads to a situation where we get a divided society I’m sure you all solid

divided society I’m sure you all solid

divided society I’m sure you all solid during the referendum you have the lead

during the referendum you have the lead

during the referendum you have the lead campaign and you have the romaine

campaign and you have the romaine

campaign and you have the romaine company and early on in the debate

company and early on in the debate

company and early on in the debate almost everyone came to a decision as to

almost everyone came to a decision as to

almost everyone came to a decision as to which side they were going to support

which side they were going to support

which side they were going to support and this wasn’t necessarily based on

and this wasn’t necessarily based on

and this wasn’t necessarily based on information but rather on the kind of

information but rather on the kind of

information but rather on the kind of emotive headlines and slogans and

emotive headlines and slogans and

emotive headlines and slogans and refer to you before so what happens in

refer to you before so what happens in

refer to you before so what happens in the situation is that you get some

the situation is that you get some

the situation is that you get some deciding what they believe before we

deciding what they believe before we

deciding what they believe before we have all the information so then when

have all the information so then when

have all the information so then when they come to look for information they

they come to look for information they

they come to look for information they look for the information that supports

look for the information that supports

look for the information that supports that opinion that they have already

that opinion that they have already

that opinion that they have already decided on for someone who believes that

decided on for someone who believes that

decided on for someone who believes that we should leave EU or remain in the EU

we should leave EU or remain in the EU

we should leave EU or remain in the EU looks to information that supports that

looks to information that supports that

looks to information that supports that view the two sides of the argument will

view the two sides of the argument will

view the two sides of the argument will come more and more convinced that they

come more and more convinced that they

come more and more convinced that they are the ones that are right and they get

are the ones that are right and they get

are the ones that are right and they get pushed further and further apart this

pushed further and further apart this

pushed further and further apart this ground in the middle is sort of I just

ground in the middle is sort of I just

ground in the middle is sort of I just think that it’s the common sense area

think that it’s the common sense area

think that it’s the common sense area the reality that both sides have pros

the reality that both sides have pros

the reality that both sides have pros and cons because almost completely

and cons because almost completely

and cons because almost completely ignore now this isn’t something that

ignore now this isn’t something that

ignore now this isn’t something that it’s just normal people who are guilty

it’s just normal people who are guilty

it’s just normal people who are guilty of it’s actually something that people

of it’s actually something that people

of it’s actually something that people far higher up make mistakes or as well

far higher up make mistakes or as well

far higher up make mistakes or as well the UN and NATO organizations that are

the UN and NATO organizations that are

the UN and NATO organizations that are built on certain core assumptions

built on certain core assumptions

built on certain core assumptions assumptions such as our belief in

assumptions such as our belief in

assumptions such as our belief in democracy in freedom in human rights and

democracy in freedom in human rights and

democracy in freedom in human rights and are these these are noble things to

are these these are noble things to

are these these are noble things to believe in unlock codes are not good but

believe in unlock codes are not good but

believe in unlock codes are not good but these beliefs can also in the same way

these beliefs can also in the same way

these beliefs can also in the same way that our belief that we should we

that our belief that we should we

that our belief that we should we you can lead to making mistakes now I’m

you can lead to making mistakes now I’m

you can lead to making mistakes now I’m studying for my thesis of the moment and

studying for my thesis of the moment and

studying for my thesis of the moment and 11 will talk about is the situation in

11 will talk about is the situation in

11 will talk about is the situation in Libya in 2011 now this cartoon is

Libya in 2011 now this cartoon is

Libya in 2011 now this cartoon is actually surprisingly accurate about

actually surprisingly accurate about

actually surprisingly accurate about what happened but but to just give you a

what happened but but to just give you a

what happened but but to just give you a brief overview Colonel Gaddafi the

brief overview Colonel Gaddafi the

brief overview Colonel Gaddafi the dictator in Libya and being in power for

dictator in Libya and being in power for

dictator in Libya and being in power for more than 40 years that many of those

more than 40 years that many of those

more than 40 years that many of those years use an oppressive dictator in a

years use an oppressive dictator in a

years use an oppressive dictator in a lot of ways so in 2011 as part of a

lot of ways so in 2011 as part of a

lot of ways so in 2011 as part of a wider picture of the Arab Spring he

wider picture of the Arab Spring he

wider picture of the Arab Spring he faces protest all these people

faces protest all these people

faces protest all these people particularly in the city of Benghazi and

particularly in the city of Benghazi and

particularly in the city of Benghazi and now he uses his security and structure

now he uses his security and structure

now he uses his security and structure is his armed forces attack these

is his armed forces attack these

is his armed forces attack these protesters and the situation escalates

protesters and the situation escalates

protesters and the situation escalates and escalates until until the rebels

and escalates until until the rebels

and escalates until until the rebels hold the city Benghazi Gaddafi is

hold the city Benghazi Gaddafi is

hold the city Benghazi Gaddafi is fighting back he’s using his air force

fighting back he’s using his air force

fighting back he’s using his air force he’s hitting his own people with Miss

he’s hitting his own people with Miss

he’s hitting his own people with Miss islands and the UN looks the situation

islands and the UN looks the situation

islands and the UN looks the situation and they see a dictator brutally

and they see a dictator brutally

and they see a dictator brutally attacking your own people this is

attacking your own people this is

attacking your own people this is against everything the UN believes it so

against everything the UN believes it so

against everything the UN believes it so when Qaddafi stands up and says that

when Qaddafi stands up and says that

when Qaddafi stands up and says that he’s going to go house by house room by

he’s going to go house by house room by

he’s going to go house by house room by room and purifying his country of the

room and purifying his country of the

room and purifying his country of the rebels the UN quite simply panics and

rebels the UN quite simply panics and

rebels the UN quite simply panics and understandably they say about killing

understandably they say about killing

understandably they say about killing his own

his own

his own violating that human rights and they

violating that human rights and they

violating that human rights and they always immediately authorized

always immediately authorized

always immediately authorized intervention by NATO to protect

intervention by NATO to protect

intervention by NATO to protect civilians that is that is the reason for

civilians that is that is the reason for

civilians that is that is the reason for this intervention to protect civilians

this intervention to protect civilians

this intervention to protect civilians and what this leads to do is NATO

and what this leads to do is NATO

and what this leads to do is NATO missile strike on behalf ease forces to

missile strike on behalf ease forces to

missile strike on behalf ease forces to get rid of an immediate threat but they

get rid of an immediate threat but they

get rid of an immediate threat but they don’t stop that they keep hitting these

don’t stop that they keep hitting these

don’t stop that they keep hitting these forces they remove his means of holding

forces they remove his means of holding

forces they remove his means of holding on to power until eventually several

on to power until eventually several

on to power until eventually several months later the rebels capture and kill

months later the rebels capture and kill

months later the rebels capture and kill their former ruler now this was a

their former ruler now this was a

their former ruler now this was a contentious issue from status wasn’t you

contentious issue from status wasn’t you

contentious issue from status wasn’t you know a clear-cut quit but matter but the

know a clear-cut quit but matter but the

know a clear-cut quit but matter but the reality was that early on many people

reality was that early on many people

reality was that early on many people saw this is a victory or a potential

saw this is a victory or a potential

saw this is a victory or a potential victory for democracy for peace they saw

victory for democracy for peace they saw

victory for democracy for peace they saw a chance to take country that never

a chance to take country that never

a chance to take country that never before had elections that have been

before had elections that have been

before had elections that have been under the rule of one man 40 years and

under the rule of one man 40 years and

under the rule of one man 40 years and to turn it into a democracy to bring

to turn it into a democracy to bring

to turn it into a democracy to bring peace and stability to the area but that

peace and stability to the area but that

peace and stability to the area but that situation just didn’t bear out now a

situation just didn’t bear out now a

situation just didn’t bear out now a picture can’t tell the whole story and

picture can’t tell the whole story and

picture can’t tell the whole story and this is just one that found on Google

this is just one that found on Google

this is just one that found on Google but the situation in Libya is probably

but the situation in Libya is probably

but the situation in Libya is probably not what you’re imagining it was before

not what you’re imagining it was before

not what you’re imagining it was before the Civil War Libya was not some failed

the Civil War Libya was not some failed

the Civil War Libya was not some failed state where people struggling to feed

state where people struggling to feed

state where people struggling to feed themselves Lydia was actually the

themselves Lydia was actually the

themselves Lydia was actually the wealthiest country in Africa it was the

wealthiest country in Africa it was the

wealthiest country in Africa it was the country with the highest GDP the highest

country with the highest GDP the highest

country with the highest GDP the highest human development index the lowest child

human development index the lowest child

human development index the lowest child mortality and the highest life

mortality and the highest life

mortality and the highest life expectancy and a lot of this was

expectancy and a lot of this was

expectancy and a lot of this was actually due to Gaddafi when he took

actually due to Gaddafi when he took

actually due to Gaddafi when he took over Libya was a very very poor country

over Libya was a very very poor country

over Libya was a very very poor country and he did a lot improved a lot in the

and he did a lot improved a lot in the

and he did a lot improved a lot in the situation in many areas I’m not going to

situation in many areas I’m not going to

situation in many areas I’m not going to say he was a moral man because in many

say he was a moral man because in many

say he was a moral man because in many cases he also oppressed his people quite

cases he also oppressed his people quite

cases he also oppressed his people quite brutal but there are two sides of the

brutal but there are two sides of the

brutal but there are two sides of the coin situation now low we’re now in 2017

coin situation now low we’re now in 2017

coin situation now low we’re now in 2017 six years after the intervention and the

six years after the intervention and the

six years after the intervention and the sill illness but no effective government

sill illness but no effective government

sill illness but no effective government in living thousands of people are still

in living thousands of people are still

in living thousands of people are still dying every year organizations like Al

dying every year organizations like Al

dying every year organizations like Al Qaeda and Isis a starting to get a

Qaeda and Isis a starting to get a

Qaeda and Isis a starting to get a stronger foot have fun because there’s

stronger foot have fun because there’s

stronger foot have fun because there’s no security matter quite simply you have

no security matter quite simply you have

no security matter quite simply you have to look at this situation say how did an

to look at this situation say how did an

to look at this situation say how did an intervention that was there to protect

intervention that was there to protect

intervention that was there to protect civilians result in a situation like

civilians result in a situation like

civilians result in a situation like this well to bring it back round to the

this well to bring it back round to the

this well to bring it back round to the EU referendum in the same way but we

EU referendum in the same way but we

EU referendum in the same way but we made assumptions about what we believe

made assumptions about what we believe

made assumptions about what we believe to be right when we were voting on

to be right when we were voting on

to be right when we were voting on remote

remote

remote Britain’s situation in the EU the UN

Britain’s situation in the EU the UN

Britain’s situation in the EU the UN polls and certain core assumption their

polls and certain core assumption their

polls and certain core assumption their belief in democracy in human rights in

belief in democracy in human rights in

belief in democracy in human rights in freedom and the protection of civilians

freedom and the protection of civilians

freedom and the protection of civilians and it’s led to this situation I how

and it’s led to this situation I how

and it’s led to this situation I how does that happen well I’m going to

does that happen well I’m going to

does that happen well I’m going to propose that perhaps through certain

propose that perhaps through certain

propose that perhaps through certain hard truths of the UN failed to

hard truths of the UN failed to

hard truths of the UN failed to acknowledge when they made the decisions

acknowledge when they made the decisions

acknowledge when they made the decisions in to be in Libya first of these you can

in to be in Libya first of these you can

in to be in Libya first of these you can perhaps already guess at the tater chips

perhaps already guess at the tater chips

perhaps already guess at the tater chips can be good now get acne as I’ve already

can be good now get acne as I’ve already

can be good now get acne as I’ve already said do a lot to improve the economic

said do a lot to improve the economic

said do a lot to improve the economic situation in Libya you know the part of

situation in Libya you know the part of

situation in Libya you know the part of the reason the teacher can be successful

the reason the teacher can be successful

the reason the teacher can be successful typically in a volatile situation like

typically in a volatile situation like

typically in a volatile situation like that huh is that they are able to act

that huh is that they are able to act

that huh is that they are able to act quickly is sizably and even if it

quickly is sizably and even if it

quickly is sizably and even if it sometimes may be troubling for swimming

sometimes may be troubling for swimming

sometimes may be troubling for swimming whereas the democracy gets caught up and

whereas the democracy gets caught up and

whereas the democracy gets caught up and slow bureaucratic processes the need to

slow bureaucratic processes the need to

slow bureaucratic processes the need to come to an agreement between everyone

come to an agreement between everyone

come to an agreement between everyone well that means that they can be open to

well that means that they can be open to

well that means that they can be open to abuse and subversion why people are

abuse and subversion why people are

abuse and subversion why people are willing to use more violent means that

willing to use more violent means that

willing to use more violent means that is why democracy failed to sing holding

is why democracy failed to sing holding

is why democracy failed to sing holding the second are true perhaps even more

the second are true perhaps even more

the second are true perhaps even more difficult summer now I don’t mean this a

difficult summer now I don’t mean this a

difficult summer now I don’t mean this a sense that we should just turn a blind

sense that we should just turn a blind

sense that we should just turn a blind eye when we see people being killed by

eye when we see people being killed by

eye when we see people being killed by the leaders the difficult assumption the

the leaders the difficult assumption the

the leaders the difficult assumption the difficult assumption that the UN made is

difficult assumption that the UN made is

difficult assumption that the UN made is that they improve the situation the

that they improve the situation the

that they improve the situation the reality is if you if the UN not

reality is if you if the UN not

reality is if you if the UN not authorized intervention it actually

authorized intervention it actually

authorized intervention it actually would have likely defeats the rebels in

would have likely defeats the rebels in

would have likely defeats the rebels in a matter of weeks stability would have

a matter of weeks stability would have

a matter of weeks stability would have content you Olivia would have continued

content you Olivia would have continued

content you Olivia would have continued to be an affluent country yes he may

to be an affluent country yes he may

to be an affluent country yes he may have oppresses people but in many ways

have oppresses people but in many ways

have oppresses people but in many ways you have to look into the situation

you have to look into the situation

you have to look into the situation would be far better for the majority

would be far better for the majority

would be far better for the majority people that it currently is now that can

people that it currently is now that can

people that it currently is now that can be quite difficult swallow or what point

be quite difficult swallow or what point

be quite difficult swallow or what point do we say we can’t allow these human

do we say we can’t allow these human

do we say we can’t allow these human rights abuse or point we believe we can

rights abuse or point we believe we can

rights abuse or point we believe we can improve the situation I hope have a

improve the situation I hope have a

improve the situation I hope have a simple answer but it leads on to the

simple answer but it leads on to the

simple answer but it leads on to the final point that I want to make now I’m

final point that I want to make now I’m

final point that I want to make now I’m not going to tell you what’s faint here

not going to tell you what’s faint here

not going to tell you what’s faint here because that goes against the entire

because that goes against the entire

because that goes against the entire points my soul but I do want you to do

points my soul but I do want you to do

points my soul but I do want you to do that’s you self-serving questions look

that’s you self-serving questions look

that’s you self-serving questions look at this situation in Libya and so I say

at this situation in Libya and so I say

at this situation in Libya and so I say if values such as democracy and human

if values such as democracy and human

if values such as democracy and human rights who lead to such destruction

rights who lead to such destruction

rights who lead to such destruction because people fail to look at me

because people fail to look at me

because people fail to look at me critically

critically

critically then what are some of the assumptions

then what are some of the assumptions

then what are some of the assumptions that I followed what are some of the

that I followed what are some of the

that I followed what are some of the things that I think how they affect in

things that I think how they affect in

things that I think how they affect in my day-to-day life are they effective

my day-to-day life are they effective

my day-to-day life are they effective decisions that I making the thing is

decisions that I making the thing is

decisions that I making the thing is that I hold so there are a few things I

that I hold so there are a few things I

that I hold so there are a few things I want you to go away from there and think

want you to go away from there and think

want you to go away from there and think about first thing play devil’s advocate

about first thing play devil’s advocate

about first thing play devil’s advocate might I don’t just mean talk you look at

might I don’t just mean talk you look at

might I don’t just mean talk you look at what other people say and really

what other people say and really

what other people say and really challenge them I mean take a look at

challenge them I mean take a look at

challenge them I mean take a look at yourself if you find yourself giving an

yourself if you find yourself giving an

yourself if you find yourself giving an opinion or arguing a certain point of

opinion or arguing a certain point of

opinion or arguing a certain point of view take a step back and say why is it

view take a step back and say why is it

view take a step back and say why is it that is what I’m arguing is it perhaps

that is what I’m arguing is it perhaps

that is what I’m arguing is it perhaps because I have informed myself I’ve

because I have informed myself I’ve

because I have informed myself I’ve looked at all the arguments that I’ve

looked at all the arguments that I’ve

looked at all the arguments that I’ve come to an informed decision or is it

come to an informed decision or is it

come to an informed decision or is it because I’m getting swept along in the

because I’m getting swept along in the

because I’m getting swept along in the sidewalk people around me think in

sidewalk people around me think in

sidewalk people around me think in certain emotive headlines am I getting

certain emotive headlines am I getting

certain emotive headlines am I getting caught up in a way

caught up in a way

caught up in a way it’s a very difficult thing to do but if

it’s a very difficult thing to do but if

it’s a very difficult thing to do but if you do that then you’re making the first

you do that then you’re making the first

you do that then you’re making the first steps informing yourself more

steps informing yourself more

steps informing yourself more effectively which brings on second point

effectively which brings on second point

effectively which brings on second point I don’t mean when I say read watch and

I don’t mean when I say read watch and

I don’t mean when I say read watch and listen I don’t mean just look at the

listen I don’t mean just look at the

listen I don’t mean just look at the mainstream news sources I mean go beyond

mainstream news sources I mean go beyond

mainstream news sources I mean go beyond that and really hunt for information

that and really hunt for information

that and really hunt for information hunt for knowledge read journal articles

hunt for knowledge read journal articles

hunt for knowledge read journal articles and magazines read you know books by

and magazines read you know books by

and magazines read you know books by people who know what situation really is

people who know what situation really is

people who know what situation really is like listen to podcasts or any number of

like listen to podcasts or any number of

like listen to podcasts or any number of podcasts and radio shows that unpick

podcasts and radio shows that unpick

podcasts and radio shows that unpick current affairs and look at different

current affairs and look at different

current affairs and look at different time mate watch documentaries are even

time mate watch documentaries are even

time mate watch documentaries are even technology they’re all the fantastic

technology they’re all the fantastic

technology they’re all the fantastic ways to really challenge the way you

ways to really challenge the way you

ways to really challenge the way you think the finally the perhaps most

think the finally the perhaps most

think the finally the perhaps most importantly ask questions the important

importantly ask questions the important

importantly ask questions the important thing is not some questioning now quite

thing is not some questioning now quite

thing is not some questioning now quite asking a question is not a sign of

asking a question is not a sign of

asking a question is not a sign of weakness it’s not a sign of ignorance if

weakness it’s not a sign of ignorance if

weakness it’s not a sign of ignorance if I ask you a question is the best way to

I ask you a question is the best way to

I ask you a question is the best way to make sure that you are well informed

make sure that you are well informed

make sure that you are well informed it’s the best way to actually using the

it’s the best way to actually using the

it’s the best way to actually using the information that is available to you

information that is available to you

information that is available to you effectively it’s the best way to make

effectively it’s the best way to make

effectively it’s the best way to make sure that the opinions you hold the

sure that the opinions you hold the

sure that the opinions you hold the opinions that you spread in the world

opinions that you spread in the world

opinions that you spread in the world are truly your own

”

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