I only just discovered this article, and found it extremely useful.
My issue with it, however, is that the author argues that external social influence is the primary source of crony-beliefs. "...social incentives are the root of all our biggest thinking errors."
I think this glosses over an entire class of beliefs that would fall neatly into the crony definition, which need not have anything to do with the opinions of others: self-deception, denial, etc. Surely we maintain a large number of views that are less meritocratic, less good at modeling... (read more)
I only just discovered this article, and found it extremely useful.
My issue with it, however, is that the author argues that external social influence is the primary source of crony-beliefs. "...social incentives are the root of all our biggest thinking errors."
I think this glosses over an entire class of beliefs that would fall neatly into the crony definition, which need not have anything to do with the opinions of others: self-deception, denial, etc. Surely we maintain a large number of views that are less meritocratic, less good at modeling... (read more)