Episode 268: ”Citizens Need to Know Numbers”

Making sense of our world is a profoundly human experience. Some default to artistic pursuits while others take up fulfilling hobbies and yet others still defer to the sciences. When it comes to data, however, those of us without solid understanding can be easily misled or confused. This issue was the subject of an article from Aeon, which we discuss this week with Leland Holcomb. How does the confident certainty of numbers allow for misunderstanding? How are larger figures used to distort our perception of scale?