Our culture, and our entire political system, is based on the idea that discussion and debate can change hearts and minds. But is that a lie? Nathan Clarkson and Joseph Holmes discuss.

References and resources

Exposure to alternative viewpoints causes us to dig in our heels: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2018/04/actually-social-media-isn-t-an-echo-chamber/

Cognitive bias: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-baby-scientist/202406/changing-hearts-and-minds

Our mental map: https://www.turing.ac.uk/blog/facts-dont-change-minds-and-theres-data-prove-it

Persuade people through relationships: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/18/change-mind-evidence-arguing-social-relationships

https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-can-you-change-someone-s-mind-spoiler-facts-don-t-work-so-well-hugo-mercier