Opinion piece examines why highly intelligent people make flawed judgments
A commentary piece discusses how even celebrated experts and public figures sometimes make confident but questionable claims outside their expertise. It cites tech investor Jason Calacanis's podcast remarks, including his view that the Russia-Ukraine war could be resolved through land swaps and that governments shouldn't regulate mergers and acquisitions.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The piece suggests that cultures which celebrate exceptional intelligence can slide into treating that intelligence as infallibility, which may explain why smart individuals sometimes speak with unwarranted confidence on topics far from their expertise. This framing implies a broader caution about deferring too readily to perceived experts, though it does not name specific consequences of Calacanis's remarks.
- The essay argues intelligence can be mistaken for infallibility in certain cultures.
- Jason Calacanis is cited as an example, having made confident claims about geopolitics and regulation on a podcast.
- The piece raises a broader caution about over-trusting experts outside their specific domain.
Source: fastcompany.com, 2026-09-29
Published there as: “Why even the smartest people on the planet can think really dumb things”
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