Environmental Issues Exam 1 Review

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture notes.

Emergent property

An unexpected product of a complex system.

The concern of Science

Science is largely concerned with assembling information and asking questions about what we don’t know.

A key premise of the “Knowledge Illusion”

We use our surroundings and other people to help us perceive the world.

Prometheus, the Greek deity, is a mythical analogy that forces us to:

Be humble, think carefully before interfering in complex systems, and never marry someone named Pandora.

According to Dan Kahneman and others,

Most of our thinking is quick and emotional, and non-rational.

A concept or theory in human evolution is that we have evolved to have a Social Brain, which means that:

Our brains are effective at working with other brains to achieve a bigger goal.

The “Cultural Cognition Theory” is a view of our cognitive activities that:

We all have acquired sets of values that define us, and how we react to new information.

Cognitive dissonance

The immediate, almost physical, reaction we feel when confronted with information or situations that don’t fit our world view.

Positive and effective strategies to overcome Cognitive Dissonance

Appeal to a person’s value system as an avenue for discussion; Identify and use co-benefits that appeal to diverse groups.

The amplification and adoption of a set of beliefs by a Hive can lead to

self-censorship, Groupthink, Internal group pressure to conform.

Heuristic

A tool for thinking or perceiving.

Point A of the ecochamber

Creation

Point B of the ecochamber

Amplification

The Dunning-Kruger effect

Describes the idea that people are often ignorant of the complexity of the world around them.

Braver Angels Steps

listen actively and empathetically to understand their perspective fully, finding Common Ground, Communicate your perspective respectfully

Cherry Picking Data

Selecting only specific data that supports a predetermined conclusion while ignoring data that contradicts it.

Promoting Fake Experts

Highlighting individuals presented as credible authorities despite lacking the necessary credentials or consensus support.

Appealing to conspiracy theories

Suggesting that experts or authorities are part of a cover-up, thereby sowing distrust in official information.

Shifting the Burden of Proof

Demanding that opponents disprove a claim without providing robust evidence to substantiate it.