Julia Galef

{{Short description|American rationality writer and speaker (born 1983)}}

{{Infobox philosopher

| name = Julia Galef

| image = 20150126 Julia Galef 2.JPG

| caption = Galef in 2015

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1983|7|4|mf=yes}}{{Cite web |last=De Ceulaer |first=Joël |date=2021-06-04 |title=InterviewWetenschapsauteur Julia Galef |url=https://www.demorgen.be/tech-wetenschap/de-waarheid-ligt-niet-altijd-in-het-midden-soms-heeft-de-ene-kant-gelijk-en-de-andere-niet~bc6cbe62/?referrer=https://www.google.com/ |access-date= |website=De Morgen |language=nl}}

| birth_place = Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| main_interests = Philosophy of science, applied rationality

| school_tradition = Scientific skepticism

| era = Contemporary philosophy

| region = Western philosophy

| education = Columbia University (BA)

| institutions = Center for Applied Rationality
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry
Rationally Speaking

| website = {{URL|https://juliagalef.com/}}

}}

{{Listen

| filename = Julia Galef voice.flac

| title = The voice of Julia Galef

| description = recorded January 26, 2015, at Het Denkgelag

}}

Julia Galef ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|eɪ|l|ə|f}}; born July 4, 1983) is an American writer, speaker and co-founder of the Center for Applied Rationality.{{cite news|last1=Matsakis|first1=Louise|title=The 'Rationality' Workshop That Teaches People to Think More Like Computers|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/center-for-applied-rationality/|access-date=July 4, 2017|work=Motherboard|date=May 17, 2016|language=en-us}} She hosts Rationally Speaking, the official podcast of New York City Skeptics, which she has done since its inception in 2010, sharing the show with co-host and philosopher Massimo Pigliucci and produced by Benny Pollak until 2015.{{cite web |last=Pigliucci |first=Massimo |author-link=Massimo Pigliucci |date=December 2, 2009 |title=Podcast Teaser: Why rationality? |url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/rationally-speaking/200912/podcast-teaser-why-rationality |access-date=March 3, 2015 |publisher=Psychology Today (blog)}}{{cite book |last=Pigliucci |first=Massimo|author-link=Massimo Pigliucci |date=2012 |title=Answers for Aristotle: How Science and Philosophy Can Lead Us to a More Meaningful Life |publisher=Basic Books |page=289 |isbn=9780465021383}}

Biography

Galef was born in 1983 in Maryland. She received a BA in statistics from Columbia University. In 2010 she joined the board of directors of the New York City Skeptics.{{cite web |date=August 11, 2010 |title=Julia Galef joins NYC Skeptics Board of Directors |url=http://nycskeptics.org/news/julia-galef-joins-nyc-skeptics-board-of-directors.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020210305/https://www.nycskeptics.org/news/julia-galef-joins-nyc-skeptics-board-of-directors.html |archive-date=2018-10-20 |access-date=March 6, 2015 |publisher=New York City Skeptics}} She co-founded and became president of the nonprofit Center for Applied Rationality in 2012. The organization also gives workshops to train people to internalize and use strategies based on the principles of rationality on a more regular basis to improve their reasoning and decision-making skills and achieve goals.{{Cite episode |last=Colanduno |first=Derek |date=October 8, 2013 |title=Just Apply Rationality – Interview: Julia Galef |series=Skepticality |number=216 |publisher=Skeptic Magazine |url=http://www.skepticality.com/just-apply-rationality/ |access-date=March 6, 2015}} She was elected a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry in 2015.{{cite journal | url=http://www.csicop.org/si/show/ten_distinguished_scientists_and_scholars_named_fellows_of_committee_for_sk | title=Ten Distinguished Scientists and Scholars Named Fellows of Committee for Skeptical Inquiry | journal=Skeptical Inquirer | volume=39|issue=6|date=2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016122711/http://www.csicop.org/si/show/ten_distinguished_scientists_and_scholars_named_fellows_of_committee_for_sk | archive-date=October 16, 2015 |url-status=dead}}

Popularization of rationality research

In 2009, Galef began co-hosting the Rationally Speaking Podcast with the philosopher of science Massimo Pigliucci.{{Cite episode |last1=Stiefel |first1=Todd |last2=Metskas |first2=Amanda K. |date=May 22, 2013 |title=Julia Galef |series=The Humanist Hour |number=083 |publisher=The Humanist |url=http://thehumanist.com/multimedia/the-humanist-hour//2013/05/the-humanist-hour-83-julia-galef/ |access-date=March 3, 2015}} Their first episode was released on February 1, 2010. The show has hosted conversations with public intellectuals such as Neil deGrasse Tyson, Lawrence Krauss, James Randi, and Peter Singer.

Galef frequently speaks on rationality and moderates debates at skeptic conferences.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9rwo-VZ3WA |title=Julia Galef – Skepticon 5 |work=YouTube |publisher=Hambone Productions |date= November 30, 2012 |access-date=April 12, 2015}}{{Cite web |url=http://skeptoid.com/blog/2015/02/01/passion-science-reason/ |title=A Passion for Science and Reason |author=Bruno Van de Casteele |work=Skeptoid |publisher=Brian Dunning |date=February 1, 2015 |access-date=April 12, 2015}} She gives public lectures to organizations including the Center for Inquiry and the Secular Student Alliance.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ji9qnBjalQ |title=Moderating Discussion :: Secular Student Alliance 2010 Annual Conference |work=YouTube |publisher=Secular Student Alliance |date=September 3, 2010 |access-date=April 12, 2015}} From 2010 to 2015, she was a speaker for the Northeast Conference on Science and Skepticism.{{Cite web|url = http://necss.org/speakers/|title = NECSS SPEAKERS|access-date = April 12, 2015|website = NECSS|publisher = Northeast Conference on Science and Skepticism|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120423163335/http://necss.org/speakers/|archive-date = April 23, 2012}}{{Cite web|url = http://necss.org/necss-2015/speakers/|title = Speakers|access-date = April 12, 2015|website = necss|publisher = Northeast Conference on Science and Skepticism|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150405012623/http://necss.org/necss-2015/speakers/|archive-date = April 5, 2015|url-status = dead}}

File:'Het Denkgelag' January 26th 2015 with Richard Dawkins, Lawrence Krauss and Julia Galef (cropped).jpg 2015 moderating a conversation between Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss]]

Galef began writing the blog Measure of Doubt in 2011 with her brother,{{cite web |date=April 1, 2011 |title=New Rationality Blog: 'Measure of Doubt' |publisher=LessWrong |url=http://lesswrong.com/lw/52h/new_rationality_blog_measure_of_doubt/ |access-date=March 6, 2015}} as well as writing for Religion Dispatches{{cite web |title=Julia Galef |publisher=Religion Dispatches |access-date=March 6, 2015 |url=http://www.religiondispatches.org/contributors/juliagalef/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140604023304/http://www.religiondispatches.org/contributors/juliagalef/ |archive-date=June 4, 2014}} Archived from religiondispatches.org/contributors/juliagalef/ and Scientific American.{{cite web |title=Stories by Julia Galef |publisher=Scientific American |url=http://www.scientificamerican.com/author.cfm?id=3125 |access-date=March 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314122503/http://www.scientificamerican.com/author.cfm?id=3125 |archive-date=March 14, 2013}} Archived from scientificamerican.com/author.cfm?id=3125 Since April 2015 she has been the sole host of the Rationally Speaking podcast.{{cite web |date=April 5, 2015 |title=RS131 – James Randi on Being An Honest Liar |publisher=Rationally Speaking |url=http://rationallyspeakingpodcast.org/show/rs131-james-randi-on-being-an-honest-liar.html |access-date=April 12, 2015 |archive-date=April 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429005046/http://rationallyspeakingpodcast.org/show/rs131-james-randi-on-being-an-honest-liar.html |url-status=dead }} Galef's activities as a writer, podcaster and president of the Center for Applied Rationality are mentioned by The Atlantic,{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/09/the-legacy-of-9-11-for-community-and-the-built-environment/244946/ |title=The Legacy of 9/11 for Community and the Built Environment|last=Benfield |first=Kaid |publisher=The Atlantic |date=September 13, 2011 |access-date=March 4, 2015}} The Verge,{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/10/22/3535518/singularity-rapture-of-the-nerds-gods-end-human-race |title=Rapture of the nerds: will the Singularity turn us into gods or end the human race? |last=Popper |first=Ben |publisher=The Verge |date=October 22, 2012 |access-date=March 4, 2015}} and NPR.{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2014/12/08/369356881/what-if-atheists-were-defined-by-their-actions |title=What If Atheists Were Defined By Their Actions? |last=Lombrozo |first=Tania |publisher=NPR |date=December 8, 2014 |access-date=March 4, 2015}}

In 2014, she wrote several articles and recorded several short videos for Big Think, some of which are part of the Big Think Mentor's workshops.{{cite web |url=http://bigthink.com/big-think-mentor/make-better-decisions-redefining-giving-up |title=Make Better Decisions: Redefining "Giving Up" |publisher=Big Think |date= 2014 |access-date=March 5, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://bigthink.com/big-think-mentor/what-if-neil-degrasse-tyson-were-your-mentor |title=What if Neil deGrasse Tyson Were Your Mentor? |last=Gots |first=Jason |publisher=Big Think |date= 2013 |access-date=March 5, 2015}} Subsequent to her exposure with Big Think as an expert on the topic of rationality, she was interviewed in 2014 by Forbes,{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/learnvest/2014/01/28/6-times-we-betray-our-budgets-and-clever-ways-to-stop/ |title=6 Times We Betray Our Budgets (And Clever Ways To Stop) |last=Kade |first=Allison |work=Forbes |date=January 28, 2014 |access-date=March 4, 2015}} Fast Company,{{cite web |url=http://www.fastcompany.com/3035671/how-i-get-it-done/a-new-technique-for-creating-more-aha-moments-the-surprise-journal |title=A new technique for creating more aha-moments: The Surprise Journal |last=Segran|first=Elizabeth |publisher=Fast Company |date=September 23, 2014 |access-date=March 4, 2015}} and The Wall Street Journal.{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303453004579290510733740616 |title=More Rational Resolutions |last=Chen |first=Angela |publisher=Wall Street Journal |date=January 1, 2014 |access-date=March 4, 2015}} In particular her idea of keeping a "surprise journal" received attention, which is one of the techniques Galef uses to record incidents where her expectations were wrong, in order to recognize personal faulty assumptions that expose and counterweight the "bias blind spot". According to Galef, it can be easier to adjust internalized beliefs by framing the new evidence as a surprise.{{cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2015/01/surprise_journal_notice_the_unexpected_to_fight_confirmation_bias_for_science.html |title=Surprise! |last=Galef |first=Julia |publisher=Slate |date=January 2, 2015 |access-date=March 4, 2015}}

In February 2016, Galef delivered a TED talk on, "Why you think you're right — even if you're wrong", encouraging critical self-skepticism and prioritizing coming to the correct viewpoint using "scout mindset" instead of working to ensure your current viewpoint is seen as correct with a "soldier mindset".{{cite web |url=https://www.ted.com/talks/julia_galef_why_you_think_you_re_right_even_if_you_re_wrong |title=Why you think you're right — even if you're wrong |last=Galef |first=Julia |publisher=TED |date=June 29, 2016 |access-date=December 18, 2016}} The talk was covered by National Public Radio's TED Radio Hour in November 2016.{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/11/04/500215329/are-we-wrong-to-think-were-right |title=Are We Wrong To Think We're Right? |publisher=NPR |date=November 4, 2016 |access-date=December 18, 2016}}

In 2021, her first book The Scout Mindset: Why Some People See Things Clearly and Others Don't was published by Penguin.{{Cite news|last=Shermer|first=Michael|date=April 13, 2021|title='The Scout Mindset' Review: How to 'Update' Beliefs|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-scout-mindset-review-how-to-update-beliefs-11618355307}}{{Cite web|last=Wallace|first=Benjamin|date=April 13, 2021|title=The Tech Elite's Favorite Pop Intellectual|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/04/julia-galef-scout-mindset.html|website=Intelligencer}}

Ideas on rationality

Julia Galef often explains common confusions and popular misconceptions of rationality. Frequently she distinguishes Richard Foley's{{cite book |last=Foley |first=R. |date=2014 |chapter=1. Epistemic Rationality |chapter-url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.4159/harvard.9780674334236.c1/html |title=The Theory of Epistemic Rationality |publisher=Harvard University Press |pages=6–8 |orig-year=1987 |isbn=978-0-674-33423-6 |oclc=1154243739 |doi=10.4159/harvard.9780674334236}} concept of "epistemic rationality" from Max Weber's "instrumental rationality". She describes epistemic rationality as a way of reasoning according to logic and the principles of probability theory to form beliefs and conclusions. In contrast, she describes instrumental rationality as a decision-making process in which people choose the action that maximizes their expected utility, whatever their goals are.

Galef discussed the concept of Straw Vulcan, originally coined by the website TV Tropes,{{cite web |url=http://bigthink.com/in-their-own-words/debunking-straw-vulcan-rationality |title=Debunking Straw Vulcan Rationality |last=Galef|first=Julia |publisher=Big Think |date=April 2013 |access-date=March 4, 2015}} to describe the incorrect perception about rationality as a way of thinking that denies emotions such as love and lacks appreciations for beauty. It refers to the fictional character Spock (a half-Vulcan) in Star Trek, who is often seen to exemplify this caricature of rationality. Galef argues that, given the gross irrationality Spock has seen in humans, his failure to adjust his expectations about humans' ability to make rational decisions is itself a case of irrationality.