The Hidden Power of Analogy | John Pollack | TEDxUofM

[Applause]

[Applause] let me tell you a story when I was 34 I

let me tell you a story when I was 34 I

let me tell you a story when I was 34 I got the chance of a lifetime a job

got the chance of a lifetime a job

got the chance of a lifetime a job interview at the White House to become a

interview at the White House to become a

interview at the White House to become a presidential speechwriter unfortunately

presidential speechwriter unfortunately

presidential speechwriter unfortunately as I sat there watching the chief

as I sat there watching the chief

as I sat there watching the chief speechwriter read through my resume

speechwriter read through my resume

speechwriter read through my resume he started frowning and he looks up and

he started frowning and he looks up and

he started frowning and he looks up and he says you had a lot of other projects

he says you had a lot of other projects

he says you had a lot of other projects going on what’s this about building a

going on what’s this about building a

going on what’s this about building a cork boat and I told him the truth that

cork boat and I told him the truth that

cork boat and I told him the truth that since the age of seven I had been saving

since the age of seven I had been saving

since the age of seven I had been saving corks from wine bottles to build a

corks from wine bottles to build a

corks from wine bottles to build a Viking ship and that my plan was

Viking ship and that my plan was

Viking ship and that my plan was eventually when I had enough got the

eventually when I had enough got the

eventually when I had enough got the boat built to take it on an epic voyage

boat built to take it on an epic voyage

boat built to take it on an epic voyage to the canals of French wine country and

to the canals of French wine country and

to the canals of French wine country and he just looked at me like who is this

he just looked at me like who is this

he just looked at me like who is this nut job and I could feel the entire

nut job and I could feel the entire

nut job and I could feel the entire interview and my my shot at the White

interview and my my shot at the White

interview and my my shot at the White House slipping away I didn’t know what

House slipping away I didn’t know what

House slipping away I didn’t know what to say and then all of a sudden this

to say and then all of a sudden this

to say and then all of a sudden this analogy pops into my head and I said sir

analogy pops into my head and I said sir

analogy pops into my head and I said sir building a cork boat and writing a good

building a cork boat and writing a good

building a cork boat and writing a good speech are a lot alike in both cases you

speech are a lot alike in both cases you

speech are a lot alike in both cases you take a jumble of small things corks or

take a jumble of small things corks or

take a jumble of small things corks or words that don’t do much on their own

words that don’t do much on their own

words that don’t do much on their own but if you put them into just the right

but if you put them into just the right

but if you put them into just the right order they’ll take you on an amazing

order they’ll take you on an amazing

order they’ll take you on an amazing voyage he got the analogy and I got the

voyage he got the analogy and I got the

voyage he got the analogy and I got the job

job

job and that’s the thing about a good

and that’s the thing about a good

and that’s the thing about a good analogy at the right moment because it

analogy at the right moment because it

analogy at the right moment because it helps people see things from an entirely

helps people see things from an entirely

helps people see things from an entirely fresh perspective and tonight I’m going

fresh perspective and tonight I’m going

fresh perspective and tonight I’m going to talk about the impact that analogies

to talk about the impact that analogies

to talk about the impact that analogies can make on on the world and how each of

can make on on the world and how each of

can make on on the world and how each of us can strengthen our own analogical

us can strengthen our own analogical

us can strengthen our own analogical instinct first some of you might be

instinct first some of you might be

instinct first some of you might be wondering what exactly is an analogy

wondering what exactly is an analogy

wondering what exactly is an analogy after all they come in a lot of

after all they come in a lot of

after all they come in a lot of different disguises metaphors cliches

different disguises metaphors cliches

different disguises metaphors cliches parables proverbs legal arguments here’s

parables proverbs legal arguments here’s

parables proverbs legal arguments here’s a useful definition at its core an

a useful definition at its core an

a useful definition at its core an analogy is a comparison that asserts

analogy is a comparison that asserts

analogy is a comparison that asserts similarities between two different

similarities between two different

similarities between two different things and whether we realize it or not

things and whether we realize it or not

things and whether we realize it or not we make analogical comparisons all the

we make analogical comparisons all the

we make analogical comparisons all the time for example when we use our phones

time for example when we use our phones

time for example when we use our phones to navigate and get from A to B we

to navigate and get from A to B we

to navigate and get from A to B we follow the blue dot on the screen and

follow the blue dot on the screen and

follow the blue dot on the screen and we’re looking up and comparing that to

we’re looking up and comparing that to

we’re looking up and comparing that to the real world around us that map is a

the real world around us that map is a

the real world around us that map is a two-dimensional analog of the

two-dimensional analog of the

two-dimensional analog of the three-dimensional world and intuitively

three-dimensional world and intuitively

three-dimensional world and intuitively we just filter out everything that’s

we just filter out everything that’s

we just filter out everything that’s different about the two and almost

different about the two and almost

different about the two and almost everything is to zero in on the relevant

everything is to zero in on the relevant

everything is to zero in on the relevant similarities that get us where we want

similarities that get us where we want

similarities that get us where we want to go and that capacity to filter and

to go and that capacity to filter and

to go and that capacity to filter and compare is our analogical instinct hard

compare is our analogical instinct hard

compare is our analogical instinct hard at work now as we navigate the world of

at work now as we navigate the world of

at work now as we navigate the world of ideas the a good analogy as a creative

ideas the a good analogy as a creative

ideas the a good analogy as a creative catalyst can take us places we never

catalyst can take us places we never

catalyst can take us places we never even imagined for example what do pigs

even imagined for example what do pigs

even imagined for example what do pigs and cars have in common most of us would

and cars have in common most of us would

and cars have in common most of us would say nothing but in 1913 a Detroit

say nothing but in 1913 a Detroit

say nothing but in 1913 a Detroit mechanic named Bill clan took a trip to

mechanic named Bill clan took a trip to

mechanic named Bill clan took a trip to Chicago where he went on a tour of this

Chicago where he went on a tour of this

Chicago where he went on a tour of this if meatpacking plant and Swift have this

if meatpacking plant and Swift have this

if meatpacking plant and Swift have this an incredibly efficient system for

an incredibly efficient system for

an incredibly efficient system for dismembering and processing millions of

dismembering and processing millions of

dismembering and processing millions of pigs and sheep and cattle every year and

pigs and sheep and cattle every year and

pigs and sheep and cattle every year and and it was simple they hung the

and it was simple they hung the

and it was simple they hung the carcasses on an overhead track from a

carcasses on an overhead track from a

carcasses on an overhead track from a hook and assigned butchers to make a

hook and assigned butchers to make a

hook and assigned butchers to make a designated cut they’d slide the the meat

designated cut they’d slide the the meat

designated cut they’d slide the the meat on down to the next butcher for the next

on down to the next butcher for the next

on down to the next butcher for the next cut and so on in clan who worked for the

cut and so on in clan who worked for the

cut and so on in clan who worked for the Ford Motor Company drew an analogy and

Ford Motor Company drew an analogy and

Ford Motor Company drew an analogy and he asked himself well if they can use a

he asked himself well if they can use a

he asked himself well if they can use a moving track to disassemble pigs why

moving track to disassemble pigs why

moving track to disassemble pigs why couldn’t we just reverse the process to

couldn’t we just reverse the process to

couldn’t we just reverse the process to assemble cars and so he took this idea

assemble cars and so he took this idea

assemble cars and so he took this idea for moving assembly back to Detroit

for moving assembly back to Detroit

for moving assembly back to Detroit where his bosses including Henry Ford

where his bosses including Henry Ford

where his bosses including Henry Ford thought it was a stupid idea but he

thought it was a stupid idea but he

thought it was a stupid idea but he insisted no this is going to change the

insisted no this is going to change the

insisted no this is going to change the world this is revolutionary give it a

world this is revolutionary give it a

world this is revolutionary give it a try and they put in a line actually when

try and they put in a line actually when

try and they put in a line actually when Henry Ford was out of town on business

Henry Ford was out of town on business

Henry Ford was out of town on business and lo and behold it made a dramatic and

and lo and behold it made a dramatic and

and lo and behold it made a dramatic and immediate impact before the line went in

immediate impact before the line went in

immediate impact before the line went in it took a team of workers about twelve

it took a team of workers about twelve

it took a team of workers about twelve and a half hours to make a Model T with

and a half hours to make a Model T with

and a half hours to make a Model T with the line ninety minutes per car and that

the line ninety minutes per car and that

the line ninety minutes per car and that let Ford made it a lot more cars at a

let Ford made it a lot more cars at a

let Ford made it a lot more cars at a lot lower cost double wages and create

lot lower cost double wages and create

lot lower cost double wages and create the first mass market for automobiles in

the first mass market for automobiles in

the first mass market for automobiles in America and even more importantly it

America and even more importantly it

America and even more importantly it completely revolutionized manufacturing

completely revolutionized manufacturing

completely revolutionized manufacturing in every other industry unlocking

in every other industry unlocking

in every other industry unlocking trillions in economic potential and

trillions in economic potential and

trillions in economic potential and changing the course of history and

changing the course of history and

changing the course of history and that’s the great thing about a great

that’s the great thing about a great

that’s the great thing about a great analogy it can show us entirely new ways

analogy it can show us entirely new ways

analogy it can show us entirely new ways of getting a job done of better ways of

of getting a job done of better ways of

of getting a job done of better ways of getting a job done but be careful

getting a job done but be careful

getting a job done but be careful because if we choose the wrong analogy

because if we choose the wrong analogy

because if we choose the wrong analogy it can have terrible consequences and

it can have terrible consequences and

it can have terrible consequences and lead us astray

ask yourself why does the United States

ask yourself why does the United States incarcerate 2.3 million people that’s a

incarcerate 2.3 million people that’s a

incarcerate 2.3 million people that’s a quarter of the world’s entire prison

quarter of the world’s entire prison

quarter of the world’s entire prison population

population

population well one major contributing factor is a

well one major contributing factor is a

well one major contributing factor is a very seductive yet flawed analogy and

very seductive yet flawed analogy and

very seductive yet flawed analogy and here’s how it happened

here’s how it happened

here’s how it happened in 1994 a father whose daughter had been

in 1994 a father whose daughter had been

in 1994 a father whose daughter had been murdered by in a botched robbery by a

murdered by in a botched robbery by a

murdered by in a botched robbery by a pair of convicted felons led a ballot

pair of convicted felons led a ballot

pair of convicted felons led a ballot initiative in California to require

initiative in California to require

initiative in California to require mandatory sentences of 25 years to life

mandatory sentences of 25 years to life

mandatory sentences of 25 years to life for a third felony conviction and he

for a third felony conviction and he

for a third felony conviction and he called it three strikes and you’re out

called it three strikes and you’re out

called it three strikes and you’re out and three strikes was an easy sell

and three strikes was an easy sell

and three strikes was an easy sell after all baseball is fair everybody

after all baseball is fair everybody

after all baseball is fair everybody plays by the same rules and everybody is

plays by the same rules and everybody is

plays by the same rules and everybody is held accountable for their errors and

held accountable for their errors and

held accountable for their errors and California voters passed it in a

California voters passed it in a

California voters passed it in a landslide and about half the other

landslide and about half the other

landslide and about half the other states followed suit with their own

states followed suit with their own

states followed suit with their own version of three strikes laws now did

version of three strikes laws now did

version of three strikes laws now did this take violent felons off the street

this take violent felons off the street

this take violent felons off the street absolutely

absolutely

absolutely unfortunately it caught a lot of other

unfortunately it caught a lot of other

unfortunately it caught a lot of other people as well because judges who had

people as well because judges who had

people as well because judges who had previously had some discretion in

previously had some discretion in

previously had some discretion in sentencing were now required by law to

sentencing were now required by law to

sentencing were now required by law to sentence all third strikes to long

sentence all third strikes to long

sentence all third strikes to long sentences whether that third strike was

sentences whether that third strike was

sentences whether that third strike was a shoplifting a video or stealing loose

a shoplifting a video or stealing loose

a shoplifting a video or stealing loose change from a parked car or passing a

change from a parked car or passing a

change from a parked car or passing a bad check and what did this do it filled

bad check and what did this do it filled

bad check and what did this do it filled up our prisons at a cost of now 75

up our prisons at a cost of now 75

up our prisons at a cost of now 75 billion dollars billion dollars a year

billion dollars billion dollars a year

billion dollars billion dollars a year and thousands and thousands of ruined

and thousands and thousands of ruined

and thousands and thousands of ruined lives now

lives now

lives now the problem so we have to revisit the

the problem so we have to revisit the

the problem so we have to revisit the the analogy and ask why should baseball

the analogy and ask why should baseball

the analogy and ask why should baseball be the model for sentencing policy and

be the model for sentencing policy and

be the model for sentencing policy and the problem is not that three strikes

the problem is not that three strikes

the problem is not that three strikes and you’re out it oversimplifies things

and you’re out it oversimplifies things

and you’re out it oversimplifies things because all analogies simplify that’s

because all analogies simplify that’s

because all analogies simplify that’s that’s what they’re supposed to do it’s

that’s what they’re supposed to do it’s

that’s what they’re supposed to do it’s that the emotional appeal baseball is

that the emotional appeal baseball is

that the emotional appeal baseball is fair distracted millions and millions of

fair distracted millions and millions of

fair distracted millions and millions of voters from more relevant disqualifying

voters from more relevant disqualifying

voters from more relevant disqualifying differences between the game of baseball

differences between the game of baseball

differences between the game of baseball and criminal justice but before we

and criminal justice but before we

and criminal justice but before we dismiss emotional emotionally appealing

dismiss emotional emotionally appealing

dismiss emotional emotionally appealing analogies we need to recognize that

analogies we need to recognize that

analogies we need to recognize that those emotional appeals can be

those emotional appeals can be

those emotional appeals can be extraordinarily empowering as well a few

extraordinarily empowering as well a few

extraordinarily empowering as well a few minutes ago I talked about using our

minutes ago I talked about using our

minutes ago I talked about using our phones to navigate well when I was

phones to navigate well when I was

phones to navigate well when I was growing up in here in Ann Arbor

growing up in here in Ann Arbor

growing up in here in Ann Arbor you couldn’t just slip a computer in

you couldn’t just slip a computer in

you couldn’t just slip a computer in your pocket it took up the mainframe

your pocket it took up the mainframe

your pocket it took up the mainframe here at U of M took up the entire floor

here at U of M took up the entire floor

here at U of M took up the entire floor of a building right next door that

of a building right next door that

of a building right next door that buildings gone and so is the mainframe

buildings gone and so is the mainframe

buildings gone and so is the mainframe but the other thing was that that you

but the other thing was that that you

but the other thing was that that you had to be a techie or a scientist to use

had to be a techie or a scientist to use

had to be a techie or a scientist to use it and computers were something that

it and computers were something that

it and computers were something that most people were alien and unfriendly

most people were alien and unfriendly

most people were alien and unfriendly Steve Jobs changed all that with a

Steve Jobs changed all that with a

Steve Jobs changed all that with a friendly and explicitly friendly analogy

friendly and explicitly friendly analogy

friendly and explicitly friendly analogy the desktop along with the intuitive

the desktop along with the intuitive

the desktop along with the intuitive digital icons of tools that people

digital icons of tools that people

digital icons of tools that people already knew how to use folders

already knew how to use folders

already knew how to use folders documents scissors a trash can and he

documents scissors a trash can and he

documents scissors a trash can and he reasoned that if people felt comfortable

reasoned that if people felt comfortable

reasoned that if people felt comfortable using those tools on a regular physical

using those tools on a regular physical

using those tools on a regular physical desk they ought to be just as

desk they ought to be just as

desk they ought to be just as comfortable using them in a digital

comfortable using them in a digital

comfortable using them in a digital equivalent now of course it wasn’t his

equivalent now of course it wasn’t his

equivalent now of course it wasn’t his idea

idea

idea originally the the

originally the the

originally the the concept was first developed at Xerox but

concept was first developed at Xerox but

concept was first developed at Xerox but management there didn’t recognize its

management there didn’t recognize its

management there didn’t recognize its potential jobs did and put it to work

potential jobs did and put it to work

potential jobs did and put it to work designing and launching the Mac in 1984

designing and launching the Mac in 1984

designing and launching the Mac in 1984 and almost overnight millions of people

and almost overnight millions of people

and almost overnight millions of people could suddenly use a computer but more

could suddenly use a computer but more

could suddenly use a computer but more importantly they wanted to use a

importantly they wanted to use a

importantly they wanted to use a computer and that democratized computing

computer and that democratized computing

computer and that democratized computing power yet reshaped our relationship with

power yet reshaped our relationship with

power yet reshaped our relationship with information and it revolutionized the

information and it revolutionized the

information and it revolutionized the way that millions and millions of people

way that millions and millions of people

way that millions and millions of people work and communicate today now you might

work and communicate today now you might

work and communicate today now you might say oh the desktop that’s obvious or the

say oh the desktop that’s obvious or the

say oh the desktop that’s obvious or the moving assembly line duh anybody could

moving assembly line duh anybody could

moving assembly line duh anybody could have thought of that but they didn’t

have thought of that but they didn’t

have thought of that but they didn’t because those those underlying analogies

because those those underlying analogies

because those those underlying analogies were we’re not obvious or else other

were we’re not obvious or else other

were we’re not obvious or else other people would have exploited them and

people would have exploited them and

people would have exploited them and similarly you might say that three

similarly you might say that three

similarly you might say that three strikes and you’re out was it obviously

strikes and you’re out was it obviously

strikes and you’re out was it obviously a dumb analogy but yet millions of

a dumb analogy but yet millions of

a dumb analogy but yet millions of people rushed to embrace it so my point

people rushed to embrace it so my point

people rushed to embrace it so my point is not that analogies are good or bad

is not that analogies are good or bad

is not that analogies are good or bad per se but that we as citizens need to

per se but that we as citizens need to

per se but that we as citizens need to think very critically about those we

think very critically about those we

think very critically about those we encounter because they shape how we

encounter because they shape how we

encounter because they shape how we respond to challenges and opportunities

respond to challenges and opportunities

respond to challenges and opportunities someone asked Thomas Edison once what

someone asked Thomas Edison once what

someone asked Thomas Edison once what qualities do you look for in an inventor

qualities do you look for in an inventor

qualities do you look for in an inventor and he said three things first

and he said three things first

and he said three things first imagination

imagination

imagination second persistence and third was a

second persistence and third was a

second persistence and third was a logical mind that sees analogies and

logical mind that sees analogies and

logical mind that sees analogies and that’s because we can only explain or

that’s because we can only explain or

that’s because we can only explain or invent something new by recombining or

invent something new by recombining or

invent something new by recombining or reconfiguring or reimagining what we

reconfiguring or reimagining what we

reconfiguring or reimagining what we already

already

already have or no the world today has a lot of

have or no the world today has a lot of

have or no the world today has a lot of problems climate change rising sea

problems climate change rising sea

problems climate change rising sea levels pandemics mass extinction and

levels pandemics mass extinction and

levels pandemics mass extinction and we’re unlikely to solve these problems

we’re unlikely to solve these problems

we’re unlikely to solve these problems with yesterday’s thinking because it was

with yesterday’s thinking because it was

with yesterday’s thinking because it was yesterday’s thinking that got us into

yesterday’s thinking that got us into

yesterday’s thinking that got us into this mess

this mess

this mess we need new solutions new ideas new

we need new solutions new ideas new

we need new solutions new ideas new breakthroughs and these are inevitably

breakthroughs and these are inevitably

breakthroughs and these are inevitably going to flow from the creative

going to flow from the creative

going to flow from the creative wellspring of analogy

wellspring of analogy

wellspring of analogy fortunately our analogical instinct it’s

fortunately our analogical instinct it’s

fortunately our analogical instinct it’s like a muscle the more we exercise it

like a muscle the more we exercise it

like a muscle the more we exercise it the stronger it gets so for those of you

the stronger it gets so for those of you

the stronger it gets so for those of you who want to sharpen your thinking boost

who want to sharpen your thinking boost

who want to sharpen your thinking boost your creative metabolism and improve

your creative metabolism and improve

your creative metabolism and improve your problem-solving skills here are

your problem-solving skills here are

your problem-solving skills here are three guidelines first practice spotting

three guidelines first practice spotting

three guidelines first practice spotting all the analogies you encounter in your

all the analogies you encounter in your

all the analogies you encounter in your daily life once you start paying close

daily life once you start paying close

daily life once you start paying close attention you’ll see and hear them

attention you’ll see and hear them

attention you’ll see and hear them everywhere second once you spot an

everywhere second once you spot an

everywhere second once you spot an analogy challenge the argument that it’s

analogy challenge the argument that it’s

analogy challenge the argument that it’s making what about that analogy isn’t

making what about that analogy isn’t

making what about that analogy isn’t true and how relevant are its strengths

true and how relevant are its strengths

true and how relevant are its strengths and weaknesses and finally when you are

and weaknesses and finally when you are

and weaknesses and finally when you are trying to solve a problem consider

trying to solve a problem consider

trying to solve a problem consider multiple analogies because usually

multiple analogies because usually

multiple analogies because usually different analogies will shed useful

different analogies will shed useful

different analogies will shed useful light on different aspects of the

light on different aspects of the

light on different aspects of the problem in the end we have to remember

problem in the end we have to remember

problem in the end we have to remember analogies are just models that help us

analogies are just models that help us

analogies are just models that help us interpret and understand the world and

interpret and understand the world and

interpret and understand the world and no analogy is ever going to be perfect

no analogy is ever going to be perfect

no analogy is ever going to be perfect as the great statistician EP box once

as the great statistician EP box once

as the great statistician EP box once said all models are wrong but some are

said all models are wrong but some are

said all models are wrong but some are useful I would add some can even change

useful I would add some can even change

useful I would add some can even change the world so I wish you well in all your

the world so I wish you well in all your

the world so I wish you well in all your endeavors and may your best analogies

endeavors and may your best analogies

endeavors and may your best analogies ring true thank you

ring true thank you

ring true thank you [Applause]

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