Barry Schwartz: Our loss of wisdom

Barack Obama's Inaugural Address

In his inaugural address, Barack Obama emphasizes the need for collective effort to overcome the financial crisis. He contrasts his approach with that of his predecessor and highlights the importance of virtue in addressing challenges.

The Appeal to Virtue

• Obama rejects the idea of consumerism as a solution to the crisis.

• Instead, he calls on people to put aside childish things and appeals to virtue.

• Virtue is an old-fashioned word but holds significance in today's cutting-edge environment.

The Example of Hospital Janitors

• A job description of a hospital janitor is shown, consisting of ordinary tasks like mopping floors and emptying trash.

• Surprisingly, there is no mention of any interaction with other human beings in their job description.

• However, some janitors go beyond their duties to show kindness and empathy towards patients and their families.

The Moral Will and Skill

• These exceptional janitors possess both moral will and moral skill.

• They have the willingness to do right by others and understand what "doing right" means.

• Practical wisdom combines moral will and skill, allowing for exceptions when necessary.

Wisdom in Real-world Problems

• Wisdom requires experience, particularly in understanding the people being served.

• It involves improvisation, adapting to ambiguous situations while maintaining ethical aims.

• Wise individuals use their moral skills to serve others rather than manipulate them.

Learning Wisdom

• Wisdom is not solely dependent on brilliance; it can be acquired through experience and mentorship.

• Janitors emphasize that learning their job goes beyond technical tasks; it involves caring for people.

Lemonade Incident at a Baseball Game

A story about a lemonade incident highlights how lack of wisdom can lead to unintended consequences. Brilliance alone is insufficient without wisdom.

The Lemonade Mishap

• A father and his son attend a baseball game, and the son asks for lemonade.

• The father unknowingly purchases Mike's Hard Lemonade, which contains alcohol.

• Security guards notice the child drinking it, leading to a series of events involving police and child welfare agencies.

The Consequences of Lack of Wisdom

• Despite no alcohol in the child's blood, he is sent to a foster home for three days.

• A judge allows the child to return home only if the father leaves and checks into a motel.

Conclusion

Barack Obama's inaugural address emphasizes the importance of collective effort and virtue in overcoming challenges. The example of hospital janitors highlights the significance of moral will and skill in providing exceptional care. Wisdom is crucial in navigating real-world problems, as demonstrated by the lemonade incident. Brilliance alone is insufficient without wisdom.

The Limitations of Rules and Incentives

This section discusses the limitations of relying solely on rules and incentives to fix problems. While rules can improve situations in the short run, they often hinder moral skill and creativity. Similarly, incentives may compete with each other and lead to a focus on self-interest rather than responsibility.

Rules as a Tool

• Rules are often imposed due to previous laxity in enforcing regulations.

• Better rules are seen as a solution to fixing problems.

• However, rules alone cannot address complex situations or encourage moral behavior.

Downside of Over-reliance on Rules

• Relying too heavily on rules deprives individuals of the opportunity to improvise and learn from their actions.

• Excessive reliance on rules undermines moral will by appealing only to external incentives rather than intrinsic motivation.

• This approach leads to a war on wisdom, as it discourages critical thinking and personal judgment.

Examples of Rule-based Systems

• Modern American education is often characterized by scripted curricula that limit teachers' autonomy and creativity.

• Kindergarten classes in Chicago follow strict scripts for teaching literature, hindering individualized instruction.

Balancing Rules with Individual Skill

• While some rules are necessary, excessive regulations can stifle creativity and skill development.

• Accomplished jazz musicians need some structure but also require freedom for improvisation.

The Pitfalls of Incentives

• Offering multiple reasons or incentives for an action does not always increase motivation; sometimes they compete with each other instead of complementing each other.

Example: Nuclear Waste Dumps in Switzerland

• Citizens were asked if they would accept nuclear waste dumps in their communities. Initially, 50% agreed due to their sense of responsibility.

• When offered financial incentives, only 25% agreed, as self-interest became the primary motivator.

Inadequacy of Incentive Systems

• No incentive system can be foolproof against bad intentions or unethical behavior.

• Over-reliance on incentives demoralizes professional activity and compromises moral values.

Re-moralizing Work

• It is crucial to re-establish a sense of morality in work environments.

• Teaching ethics courses alone is not sufficient; a holistic approach is needed.

Consequences of Demoralized Professions

• Demoralization leads professionals to prioritize personal interests over ethical considerations.

• This phenomenon can be observed in medicine and business sectors.

Conclusion and Call for Change

The speaker emphasizes the need to reevaluate our reliance on rules and incentives. He suggests that we should focus on re-moralizing work environments and encouraging intrinsic motivation rather than relying solely on external factors.

Moving Beyond Rules and Incentives

• Rules and incentives have limitations in addressing complex problems.

• A shift towards intrinsic motivation and moral values is necessary for sustainable change.

Re-moralizing Work Environments

• Professionals should be encouraged to consider the ethical implications of their actions.

The Importance of Responsibility

• Prioritizing personal interests over ethical considerations undermines the integrity of professions.

Call for Change

• It is essential to reassess our reliance on rules and incentives and strive for a more balanced approach that promotes moral skill, creativity, and intrinsic motivation.

New Section

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of acknowledging and celebrating moral heroes. They emphasize the need to demand that educators also recognize and celebrate these heroes.

Importance of Acknowledging Moral Heroes

• People are inspired by moral heroes.

• With sophistication comes the understanding that you can't acknowledge having moral heroes.

• The speaker encourages acknowledging, being proud of, and celebrating moral heroes.

• It is important to demand that educators also acknowledge and celebrate these heroes.

New Section

The speaker shares a story about Aaron Feuerstein, a moral hero who kept all his employees on the payroll after their factory burned down. This decision was made to prevent disaster for both the employees and the community.

Aaron Feuerstein's Moral Heroism

• Aaron Feuerstein was the head of Malden Mills in Massachusetts.

• After their factory burned down, he kept all 3,000 employees on the payroll.

• This decision prevented disaster for both the employees and the community.

New Section

The speaker mentions two inspiring moral heroes from previous TED talks: Ray Anderson and Willie Smits. These individuals exemplify doing what is right and making a positive impact on both business and environmental issues.

Inspiring Moral Heroes

• Ray Anderson transformed part of an "evil empire" into a zero-footprint business because it was the right thing to do.

• His efforts not only align with his values but also inspire his employees.

• Willie Smits' reforestation work in Indonesia demonstrates doing what is right while considering local communities' needs.

New Section

The speaker emphasizes that ordinary heroes should be celebrated as well. They mention janitors as examples of ordinary heroes and highlight the importance of striving to be ordinary or extraordinary heroes as practitioners.

Celebrating Ordinary Heroes

• Ordinary heroes, such as janitors, should be celebrated.

• As practitioners, individuals should strive to be ordinary or extraordinary heroes.

• The speaker encourages creating environments that nurture moral skill and will in organizations.

New Section

The speaker reflects on Willie Smits' talk about reforestation in Indonesia and emphasizes the importance of understanding and involving local communities for successful initiatives. There is no formula for gaining community support, as different communities have different ways of organizing their lives.

Importance of Involving Local Communities

• Successful initiatives require understanding and involving the people in the communities.

• Gaining community support is crucial but varies depending on each community's unique organization.

• There is much to celebrate at TED and other places where people strive to do what is right.

New Section

The speaker discusses the role of leaders in creating environments that encourage moral skill and will. They emphasize the need for organizations to avoid suppressing wisdom by ensuring job descriptions align with moral work. Teachers are also encouraged to be moral exemplars for their students.

Creating Environments for Moral Skill and Will

• Leaders should create environments that encourage both moral skill and will.

• Job descriptions within organizations should reflect the moral nature of work.

• Teachers play a crucial role as moral exemplars for their students.

New Section

The speaker highlights the importance of teachers always being mindful that they are constantly teaching through their actions. They mention Bill Gates' emphasis on education and KIPP's focus on character development as key aspects of learning.

Role of Teachers in Character Development

• Teachers are always teaching, even when not explicitly instructing.

• KIPP recognizes character development as the most important aspect of learning.

• Teachers and staff should embody the values they want to instill in students.

New Section

The speaker reflects on Obama's appeal to virtue and hope. They emphasize the importance of practical wisdom as a virtue that enables other virtues, such as honesty, kindness, and courage. There is reason for hope, as people desire to be virtuous.

Virtue and Hope

• Practical wisdom is crucial for displaying other virtues at the right time and in the right way.

• People want to be allowed to be virtuous.

• TED represents a community striving to do what is right for the right reasons.

New Section

The speaker encourages paying attention to our actions, how we do them, and the organizational structures that either enable or suppress wisdom. They emphasize the need for organizations that foster wisdom development.

Paying Attention and Fostering Wisdom

• Pay attention to our actions, how we perform them, and organizational structures.

• Organizational structures should enable wisdom development rather than suppressing it.

• Wisdom is within reach if we start paying attention.

New Section

The video concludes with Chris Anderson inviting the speaker back onto the stage.