You Are Not Me, How Do You Know I Don’t Know the Joy of Fish? (On the Curse of Knowledge)

I recently watched a video by Dong Yuhui discussing the “curse of knowledge,” a concept also mentioned by Fan Deng. It’s a compelling idea.

It essentially describes how, in conversations, we tend to judge another person’s understanding based on our own perspective. Once we’ve grasped a piece of knowledge, it becomes challenging to consider things from the viewpoint of someone who hasn’t yet learned it.

The “curse of knowledge” was first identified in a 1990 experiment by Elizabeth Newton, a Ph.D. candidate at Stanford University (not Harvard, as Fan Deng mistakenly stated).

In her experiment, a “tapper” tapped out the melody of a well-known song (like “Happy Birthday”) on a table, while a “listener” attempted to identify the song. This seemingly simple study contributed to her earning a Ph.D. in psychology.

The curse of knowledge is a cognitive bias. Common phrases like, “I can’t believe they don’t understand,” “I can’t follow their logic,” or “How can they not grasp something so simple?” often reflect this bias.

The Root of the Problem

Why does this phenomenon occur?

This issue frequently arises when practicing the Feynman Technique. Explaining a concept you find simple and already understand clearly to someone else is a true test of understanding and communication skills.

Two key elements are crucial for effective communication in these situations: acceptance and a focus on the process.

• Acceptance: Are you willing to accept that the other person might not understand initially? Can you accept their different perspective? Can you embrace differences of opinion?
• Process Orientation: This is about having patience and understanding that learning takes time. It’s a gradual process that requires a certain rhythm and pace.

This requires conscious effort; the initial intention (起心, qǐ xīn) is paramount.

The term “curse of knowledge” was coined by economists Colin Camerer, George Loewenstein, and Martin Weber in a 1989 article published in the Journal of Political Economy. Their research aimed to challenge the assumption in asymmetric information analysis that more informed agents can accurately predict the judgments of less informed ones.

Zen Buddhism also touches upon this with the concept of “beginner’s mind,” which encourages maintaining an open, eager, and unbiased attitude—like a beginner—even at advanced levels of learning. This embodies an empty cup mentality, shunning arrogance. Teachers and managers especially should grasp this; a lack of understanding from the top down can lead to negative outcomes. Dialogue from an equal perspective is always preferable.

The Zhuangzi and the Joy of Fish

The Zhuangzi (Autumn Floods) offers a classic illustration:

Zhuangzi said, “The minnows come out and freely enjoy themselves—this is the happiness of fishes.”

Huizi said, “You are not a fish; how do you know the happiness of fishes?”

Zhuangzi said, “You are not I; how do you know I do not know the happiness of fishes?”

Huizi said, “I am not you; I certainly do not know you. You are certainly not a fish; your not knowing the happiness of fishes is complete.”

Zhuangzi said, “Let’s get back to the original point. When you said ‘How do you know the happiness of fishes?’ you already knew that I knew it, and then asked me. I know it on the Hao River.”

This dialogue highlights the difficulty of understanding another’s experience from an external perspective, echoing the core problem of the curse of knowledge.

Overcoming the Curse

When we understand the curse of knowledge, how do we help others understand it?

For the other party, there’s often no easy solution unless they possess the aforementioned acceptance and process orientation and are willing to acknowledge their own limitations.

The “curse” implies an inherent difficulty in bridging the gap in understanding, similar to the Trisolarans in The Three-Body Problem, who struggle to comprehend human deception.

For ourselves, the solution lies in continuous cognitive iteration, elevated thinking, stepping outside our own perspective, and accepting others’ lack of comprehension. This requires empathy and a constant effort to re-evaluate our assumptions.