Barry Schwartz: Our loss of wisdom

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Barry Schwartz: Our loss of wisdom

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15 жыл бұрын

www.ted.com Barry Schwartz makes a passionate call for practical wisdom as an antidote to a society gone mad with bureaucracy. He argues powerfully that rules often fail us, incentives often backfire, and practical, everyday wisdom will help rebuild our world.
TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Watch the Top 10 TEDTalks on TED.com, at www.ted.com/ind...

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@PR-pr8zq 3 жыл бұрын

"A wise person is made and not born"... Thank you Barry Schwartz for a talk full of wisdom

@ErichoTTA 15 жыл бұрын

Can't believe this isn't more popular! It's one of the best TEDTalks out there! Simply fantastic and a great appeal to ethics and morality!

@piotrgoacki9070 2 жыл бұрын

Maybe morality and ethics isn't that attractive as self-centered advice

@Iloveannzi Жыл бұрын

i Agree

@RichardKoenigsberg Жыл бұрын

431 VIEWS is not enough for you? Greedy.

@gontortv 3 жыл бұрын

10:48 to 12:22 is the most valuable part of this video. Thank you for this mind-blowing insight on how incentives could sometimes demotivate people.

@dollaresque 15 жыл бұрын

Wow, I found myself applauding to my computer screen several times during this talk. Old-fashioned wisdom never dies and if we can draw inspiration and insight from it still, the difficulties of today are nothing but an exciting challenge. Thanks for this great TEDtalk.

@GetMeThere1 15 жыл бұрын

I've thought all these things many times, and with frustration. I'm glad these ideas are finally getting some audience.

@MUSICOBLISS 9 жыл бұрын

"Honesty is the firstchapter in the book of wisdom" --Thomas Jefferson

@ArizonaMakingLeight 8 жыл бұрын

+Asgeir Bragason No, discernment is the first chapter of wisdom.

@greywolf271 6 жыл бұрын

Neither. It's called "Watch your back"

@nnenna2469 3 жыл бұрын

Alright TJ, did you look into your slave ownership? LOL

@wordsculpt 2 жыл бұрын

@@nnenna2469 Grow up

@inosentz 15 жыл бұрын

this was my favorite ted talk of all time. I honestly have nothing else to say, i only pray that our society makes a reversion toward success through selflessness rather than falsely rewarding selfishness.

@Zhamour Жыл бұрын

Brilliant talk... 'remoralizing work'...the virtue of practical wisdom and hope, and paying attention.

@engineerated5627 7 жыл бұрын

One of my best TED Talks. . . A must watch!!!

@abyssquick 15 жыл бұрын

years ago, i used to improvise when recommending medicine and food therapies. i would take a minute or two to listen to the customer's concerns. overall, i sold more product, and was the regualar customers' favorite. i would utilize the knowledge from dozens of books i have read, and assist people directly, particularly, in the best way i knew how. i got fired. they wanted me to parrot advertising literature and what was in their book. so much for character and moral fortitude in retail.

@rizzamaeong 3 жыл бұрын

these days its hard to choose morality over finance. our environment screams cash. ☹️

@AmmorMagnusDoctorEst 13 жыл бұрын

"scripts insure against disaster, but what they ensure in its place is mediocrity" "the reductive appeal to self-interest as the master human motive is a false description of human nature & lead to over-prescription and addiction to surface-level incentives" love :)

@BrassStorm 11 жыл бұрын

Well hot damn...and I thought no one cared about morals/character anymore. Favorite sentence in the whole video, "A wise person knows when and how to make "the exception to every rule."" It is hard to break free of rules sometimes even when you know when and how to make the exception because people around you will criticize you breaking a rule. But you must have wisdom AND courage to do wise things or else wisdom is lost. Every action starts with courage!

@tisiaan Жыл бұрын

There’s a verry good point! Courage is so important!!!

@NoActuallyGo-KCUF-Yourself 2 жыл бұрын

President Obama appealed to virtue, and Americans overwhelmingly said, "No."

@kamariahrahmah6249 2 жыл бұрын

So much to think on and appreciate.

@FangRider144 9 жыл бұрын

Barry for president 2020

@trudychristian3718 2 жыл бұрын

Best ted-talk ive ever heard

@motivationwavedailypositiv2857 2 жыл бұрын

The WISEST TED talk ever. Thank you 🤗

@styx123456 15 жыл бұрын

I am so, so glad there are still people out there willing to act as the voice of reason and common sense. Slowly but surely we continue to smother ourselves in red tape while an ever-dwindling few act against it.

@maddcatone 14 жыл бұрын

Thank you Barry Schwartz... No one listens to me when I say moral responsibility is the structure of a successful, civilized society. Now maybe someone will now that I'm not the only one saying it.

@hyeyoungheather 10 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the Wisdom. I was happy to watch this and grateful to learn 'Respect Learning'. Thank you ~ Thank you ~

@Pasdriz 14 жыл бұрын

Amen. I get the chills when I watch ted videos like this

@VinayakaVinayaka-mn9ov Жыл бұрын

Great talk. Thank you❤🙏

@Winger222 15 жыл бұрын

So true! I think people in the UK should listen to this talk, especially the banks and the government.

@timb37 10 жыл бұрын

I'd like to take this opportunity to publicly insult the intellect and moral character of those (currently 77) people who gave this a thumbs down. In this world of abject idiocy in the name of regulation and procedure, this presentation makes me weep tears of hope.

@differous01 9 жыл бұрын

Well it's up to 82 now, but that should be set against 2,852 thumbs ups. The ratio is still cause for hope.

@timb37 9 жыл бұрын

Bravo sir! Logic does at times encourage hope. That it might be concerning the human species is still more rare and exciting. My thanks for your perspective.

@differous01 9 жыл бұрын

timb37 8:48 ff "...moral skill is chipped away by an over-reliance on rules..." Reminds me of certain religious types; they got a book of rules and never make a moral decision except in defence of the rule book.

@Muffinarm_ 3 жыл бұрын

This talk is simply outstanding.

@Wallyworld121212 12 жыл бұрын

God, I love TEDtalks. These videos should be mandatory in . . . IDK school? Work? Everyone needs to see 'em. They open the eyes and the mind.

@hasatum 15 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the pointing me towards Schwartz's other work. It's good to see that I wasn't reading too much into this one. Cheers!

@abyssquick 15 жыл бұрын

i'm so sick of control freaks running everything. humans don't need a box- what we need (clearly) is to use our brains more. we have mediocrity everywhere. you can't create true quality of life without inspiring people, and reinforcing social relationship. we have to cultivate our character, raise our leaders; become lights to ourselves and each other. i like this speech, it is very insightful.

@SykarReakor 11 жыл бұрын

Very nice to listen to the guy's voice, he speaks the truth of course, great talk!

@VuthyVa 10 жыл бұрын

teach kids and adults both young and old on the right things to do

@JeanKM1 11 жыл бұрын

How did I miss seeing this lecture before now? I've been subscribed to TED for quite a long time. Good lecture.

@africanchina1 15 жыл бұрын

I think this guy is totally right and everything he said makes sense... What we need, are heroes.

@JarieSuicune Жыл бұрын

Slight rephrase: What we need is to BE heroes.

@RoninDave 11 жыл бұрын

we have put rules before our sanity and souls. Look what happened recently at a supermarket in Georgia where the police restrained poor people from taking perfectly good food that was bound to the landfill because the landowners (sun trust bank) ordered it so.

@TobiLytle 14 жыл бұрын

"Excessive incentives demoralize and reduces morality. Celebrate moral exemplars. Demand that people who teach - acknowledge and celebrate moral heroes. Any work you do that involves other people is moral work. We should strive to be moral exemplars - someone is always watching. Practical wisdom allows the other virtues to be displayed. People want to be allowed to to be virtuous. Organizations should structure themselves to support rather than suppress wisdom."

@MrSidney9 7 жыл бұрын

That's what I call an ethical sermon.

@russianspringbeauty 7 жыл бұрын

Janitors don't have it easy. Very true.

@jesusrivera389 4 жыл бұрын

Provocative, inspiring and a great eye opener to see things from different perspective. Amazing - Loved the wisdom shared thing this talk. Kudos!!!!

@mwalimumkoka384 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you

@LanceWinslow 10 жыл бұрын

Please watch this video twice if you run a company or organization - then really think on it.

@rizzamaeong 3 жыл бұрын

is what i did. even took notes.

@jespaparx 15 жыл бұрын

Ted Talks are valuable and motivating.

@Sunfawx 11 жыл бұрын

adding on to my comment from before, its like what a lot of antique pickers say "one mans trash is another mans treasure" and a happy mood is my treasure I give to the people, whether its the free food thing, talking to them about their day, or just making them laugh, its all worth it to me and I dont regret a single thing

@SM-zw3on 3 жыл бұрын

This is a big problem nowadays. This video has to go viral. At this age, being moral can get you a lawsuit and losing the job.

@wordsculpt 2 жыл бұрын

I lost 2 jobs by standing upon principle. I believe that it is a test of character.

@JarieSuicune Жыл бұрын

@@wordsculpt True. I think there is a saying, something like "Would you rather work at a job where you hurt people because 'it's just my job' or be fired from a job for doing the right thing and helping those in need?" If a job would fire you for doing the right thing, then you should probably be proud to not be supporting or representing such an organization. (Though I'm sure the immediate reprecussions of being fired were no less challenging and I hope you got through them ok!)

@ManLikeNells 8 жыл бұрын

Brilliant words indeed. #Inspired

@flowewritharoma 13 жыл бұрын

This guys's talk is easy to understand! THanks for great infomation/.

@terrancehandy1133 3 жыл бұрын

There cannot be a loss of wisdom unless there's a loss of knowledge first !

@PaekaYate 8 жыл бұрын

This talk was six years ago and still not much evolution has happened around this subject, though it is so necessary, it rather has been going in the other direction in my country. All Belgium leaders should have a look at this, the rules here are getting absurd and are taking place of morality, which is incredibly problematic... Glad to have run into this talk since it confirms what my assumptions on morals and rules are, if someone not gets what I say now, I can show them this talk which explains it very clearly.

@hamida185 4 жыл бұрын

Now it's 11 years ago

@NoActuallyGo-KCUF-Yourself 2 жыл бұрын

Every time I do what I know is the right thing, I am punished for it. I see the same happen to others. We are all training each other to be bad people, because that is what makes the rich richer and the powerful have more power. And how dare we do otherwise?

@wordsculpt 2 жыл бұрын

Congratulations ! Your life journey includes advanced ethical behavior : doing what is right Because it is right, without regard to personal gain. This is "the heros journey". A difficult path....

@KarlosEPM 2 жыл бұрын

Some professions seldom allow for goodness. It is tough to make a loving being a moral individual in these times.

@DanLackey 15 жыл бұрын

Distant memory sparked by this talk: how the janitor at my grade school was a beloved guy.

@molewizard 15 жыл бұрын

I love this guy. He's brilliant.

@rizzamaeong 3 жыл бұрын

same. i love his books.

@DestinyQx 11 жыл бұрын

Actually.. regarding the Chicago school system case.. the reason why the entire class has been scripted is that psychologists had found that teaching a 1st grade class reading skills in a script format where every single child repeats, for example, words that begin with B is that studies show that there is a SUBSTANTIAL increase in reading skills in the class verses not doing a script, i'm a teacher and i would never teach to a script b/c it wouldn't be fun, but it really does work

@ThePocketbass 11 жыл бұрын

I couldn't agree more with many of the points. Question: "teacher's must lead by example," is one of the premises. If the use of force is wrong (not virtuous) and teachers must lead by example for your model to be successful, how can they teach from a position of moral authority and strike (a forceful action?)

@waynzwhirled 11 жыл бұрын

Fabulous talk! Barry Schwartz, you are a moral hero.

@EcumenicalYellow 10 жыл бұрын

Woaah this was one of the best talks ever done, what an orator he made !

@gdibble 7 жыл бұрын

👍 3:35 “Practical wisdom," Aristotle told us, "is the combination of moral will and moral skill.” ― Barry Schwartz

@gdibble 7 жыл бұрын

The standing ovation was deserved. What a great speech!

@jackgoldman1 7 жыл бұрын

Wisdom comes from families and nature. Information comes from technology and machines and the state is a machine. We are starved for wisdom and drowning in information.

@paulsandin8282 11 жыл бұрын

Now we're getting into semantics. I'm on the side of there being no difference between hard and soft science. Mapping out our culture sounds like cultural science. After this discussion, I am also now changing my thinking. Wisdom does come from experiences, self- and social awareness, but also from science. And will continue to grow as scientists increase our knowledge of the both the physical and social sciences.

@washaway 15 жыл бұрын

its true, moving forward isn't on how many people we pass. but how many people we help.

@paulagonzalez6911 6 жыл бұрын

It is so important to stand for ordinary heroes

@LearningThings 13 жыл бұрын

This is terrific because it is so self-evident.

@Hallibutbouy 12 жыл бұрын

EXCEPTIONAL!! Flawless speech, one of the best TED talks I have seen.

@Jester123ish 11 жыл бұрын

In principle I agree with you. In this case it was more like advocating responsible behavior over irresponsible behavior. As much as this requires some reasonable guidance about the specifics it still seems like the better path as a principle.

@michaelbasher Жыл бұрын

Another great guy.

@chawk111 15 жыл бұрын

W/ regards to education specifically, I think part of the reason "scripts" are used is because to do this kind of great, individually specific teaching about character/respect for learning may entail telling pupils that the correct way to think/act is something very different from the way their parents think/act, or form the way most people in their part of the country/tax bracket act. To teach you what cartoon robots at the state legislature told you to is much more benine /populist.

@samrovito3694 6 жыл бұрын

This really needs to shown in Freshmen business classes

@TheSanityInspector 12 жыл бұрын

Looking forward to curling up with this later, when I'm not at wor--errrr!!! I mean, once I get back home.

@arzinia 8 жыл бұрын

Consciousness illuminates choices, wisdom eliminates them..

@scorched1598 7 жыл бұрын

Explain why?

@CalebMcFarland 7 жыл бұрын

Scorched awareness lets you know what choices you have, wisdom helps you discern which ones you need.

@DeepSukhwani 6 жыл бұрын

Great respect for Barry's words. For some reason when I hear him I remember A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (11th President of India).

@aethra88 Жыл бұрын

I loved this speech, but I wish it would have also addressed the issue of this belief, birthed by the Western hustle-culture, that virtue somehow counters success. This fear that being virtuous makes you weak, or at the very least puts you at a disadvantage to someone who is not inclined to be virtuous. How do we fix that? How do we incentivise someone to model themselves after Atticus Finch rather than the "mergers & acquisitions" guy who is somehow always portrayed as being more "successful". When we talk about celebrating moral exemplars, we need to address, what we have been taught to value and reward as a society, what we understand as "abundance" and how we achieve it and the fear mentality that we have cultivated to support our modern version of success.

@GodsCommunity 6 жыл бұрын

_Blessing full of blessings._ 😇

@JohanBesterphotos 10 жыл бұрын

As a side note, Barry, Jon Favreau, one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World" according to Time magazine, wrote Obama's inauguration speech. . .

@MangaManiac 13 жыл бұрын

All sounded interesting and very plausable. I´m not sure about the surveys but either way he had valid points in telling the psychological developement of the people in the terms of moral thinking. As far as the part with the teachers and the curiculum goes, that part gave me a small tear because it´s exactly how I´ve thought throughout the years in the teachers academy. Sure we get security in these rules but we get only mediocry.

@casserras 14 жыл бұрын

@Crazylalalalala Yes. He wrote a book called "The Paradox of Choice".

@TheFractalFreak 10 жыл бұрын

need more people like you

@jasmeetk0 7 жыл бұрын

Amazing talk! =)

@grahamjoss4643 4 жыл бұрын

Wow what a hero

@calikyle 15 жыл бұрын

This is one of the BEST talks ever!

@shjakes 12 жыл бұрын

I wish I had this video to email to my "seniors" (whose moral compass was totally bent) at my last major job...

@Cmdrlucky8 11 жыл бұрын

Eloquently said!

@shiddy. 2 жыл бұрын

very good

@kidmecha 15 жыл бұрын

Very well done, we need more wisdom and respect.

@JarieSuicune Жыл бұрын

YES!

@nine9s 15 жыл бұрын

When a person says "What's good for one person isn't necessarily good for another," they're talking about specifics, not essentials. At the widest abstractions, universal truths can be discerned. Productive work is good for everyone; the form of that work is highly dependent upon interest, talent, and a whole host of other things. The good is not just a matter of opinion. We can be right or wrong about it, and good and bad are objectively discernable truths.

@lanceawatt 14 жыл бұрын

Your a smart guy for making that point. I entirely agree!

@teasofavors8522 6 жыл бұрын

I really enjoyed this. Information was passed! Thank you 🙏🏿

@peterphilip 15 жыл бұрын

so it is real sad that most people leaving video comments proving they don't know how to listen are the very people that need to be listening

@hasatum 15 жыл бұрын

You make an important point. Since at least the time of Reagan's trickle down theory, small government has been associated with policies that help big business. While Reagan and Bush certainly helped to trim away regulations that big business didn't like, in general bigger government and more regulation helps big business at the expense of small business and new start-ups. For example, instead of letting the best new green tech compete, it picks favorites in favor of established corporations.

@elizabethwhittaker-william6598 8 жыл бұрын

This is so true.

@Jester123ish 11 жыл бұрын

I think I'd distinguish between simple specific advice to 'go shopping' which after all is just being told what to do, vs a general directive that encourages you to use your own virtue. If it turns out that using your own virtue is more dangerous than shopping so be it.

@eCitaroFan 11 жыл бұрын

Without wisdom, an inteligent man losses all credibility!

@jonathanziegler8126 4 жыл бұрын

"We hate to do it, but we have to follow procedures..."

@Voiceguitar 15 жыл бұрын

dead on! one of the best crowd reactions from ted's audiance yet

@dubaimisfit 15 жыл бұрын

An arm's length of consciousness can change the world - you call it courtesy, rightly - I call it "awareness of what's happening in an arm's length radius around you". And I believe this alone can change the society

@ManchuDan22 13 жыл бұрын

Much of what he is talking about has to do with how legalistic we've become. The willingness to sue other people (as a form of winning the lottery) is WAY too common. The other is an extremely paternalistic government which more and more grows because people want the AUTHORITY to solve all their problems.

@atultripathi19 10 жыл бұрын

one word for it -- masterpiece!!

@evilednafilms 15 жыл бұрын

Another great talk. TED is my new favourite thing.

@jagadgurusiddhaswarupanand6633 7 жыл бұрын

Climate Change is really a major issue today . Nice video .

@ImOnTheTube 15 жыл бұрын

Hehe I was thinking about the same concepts today and incidentally stumbled on this video (funny how some days seem to have a theme to them). For example whats wrong with being stopped by a police officer while speeding? Its never the intention that counts but only the act of (usually biased) observance. Our society is very limiting and does not breathe. It is very stiff and inorganic. Its only up to everyday folk - the foundation of everything - to change anything.

@elapandya4965 9 жыл бұрын

We have seen too many rules and no common sense in Medicare surveys at facilities. Regulations have created dumbing effect. We were visiting India with a few American friends and the first thing our friends observed is that every person in India had a suggestion of how things can be done, including our driver we had hired for a month.

@Sunfawx 11 жыл бұрын

one of the hardest decisions in life is "is doing the right thing worth losing my job?" if my job knew how much I stole from them and gave to the people I wouldnt have the house I have now. if somebody couldnt pay 20 cents they would fire me if I accepted just the dollars, I gave coffees to tired truck drivers who have to keep driving at night, people are surprised that I do this and theyre even more surprised with how many years ive been working, and my only answer is "I care"

@ThePocketbass 11 жыл бұрын

Some other issue----Mr. Schwarz opened up his dialogue with how Obama appealed to our sense of virtue, and how Bush told us to "just go shopping."---What if the far less dangerous course were to "just go shopping?" Let me explain (albeit with the ability of hindsight:) Since going shopping is a personal choice and forced "equality" via excessive governmental regulation is imposed on a populace, doesn't that corrode the "virtue" argument. NOT MAKING POLITICAL POINT-JUST PHILOSOPHICAL.