The Genius of Thomas Sowell | Konstantin Kisin

In this clip, John and Konstantin Kisin discuss Thomas Sowell's idea that 'there are no solutions, only trade-offs' .
See their full interview here: • Fatherhood, Oxford Uni...
Konstantin Kisin is a writer, social commentator, co-host of TRIGGERnometry and comedian. He is a regular on British and American TV and radio shows including Question Time, Good Morning Britain, BBC Breakfast, Daily Politics, LBC Cross Question, Tucker Carlson, the Megyn Kelly Show and many others.
Konstantin has written for publications including the Daily Telegraph, the Spectator, Tablet Magazine, Quillette, Standpoint as well as his first book, An Immigrant’s Love Letter to the West.
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[@TheIceyeddy]

"There are no solutions, only trade-offs" - so true!

[@StimParavane]

Not true. Engineers do not think this way and that allows the world to develop.

[@abazely2743]

Look at how the "Final Solution" turned out.1

[@alfonsecoppola5938]

hes so smart ,so simple,genius

[@lkyuvsad]

@@StimParavanein fairness, as an engineer (albeit of software rather than meatspace) we of course think in terms of trade offs, but the question is always- “but can we make some of these trade offs go away?”. And often, we can. And when we can’t, we’re looking for an optimal trade off. Kisin’s problem is that he’s relatively smart, and sees a lot of people who aren’t as smart as him saying dumb things. But that doesn’t mean everything the people saying dumb things believe is dumb. It also doesn’t mean that there aren’t people smarter than him working on the problem who already know everything he does and more. It strikes me as incredibly arrogant to believe that the serious people working on climate change don’t understand the concept of trade offs. It’s absolutely basic.

[@lkyuvsad]

@@StimParavaneand as you imply the proposal that “it’s all trade offs” implies that “we can only tinker around the edges” has so much evidence against it that I don’t know where to start. We had most people scrabbling an existence out of the soil a couple of hundred years ago. We didn’t get where we are in that space of time by tinkering around the edges.

[@user-ld1dy3yc8j]

Thomas Sowell is the most important voice in the wilderness of irrationality! “Reality is not Optional!” T.Sowell

[@Rambleon444]

Yet, throughout my education, he was never brought up by any of my teachers. Pathetic really.

[@lkyuvsad]

I’d urge you to go and read or listen to economists dissecting Sowell’s work. It is perhaps not as important or compelling as you think.

[@D3xTRb0y]

@@lkyuvsadWhich economists? Seen a guy called unlearning economics do a video 'dissecting' him but it was pathetic. Completely misrepresented everything Sowell said

[@martyy4073]

@@lkyuvsad which economists? wolf

[@lkyuvsad]

@@D3xTRb0y I’ve seen that one and thought it was pretty good. Where does he misrepresent Sowell?

[@leebanks-gorton4512]

Thomas Sowell is a true genius and a well researched historian. The world should be following his teachings.

[@lkyuvsad]

Is he, though? Because there are quite a lot of convincing counter arguments to his work. Google “Thomas sowell critique” or something like that. As a rule of thumb, I’m immediately skeptical of people banging on about how fact based they are. Doesn’t mean they’re wrong, but it’s a dog whistle for b*llshit if you need to make a point of it. Presenting a large volume of facts is not the same as a theory being well-evidenced.

[@ghostbeetle2950]

I am. Well, I try.

[@serioustoday]

He is calm and has a deep voice. Reminds of James Earl Jones, Morgan Freeman . As for genius. Not exactly at the forefront of breakthroughs but certainly reasonable.

[@fyrchmyrddin1937]

@@serioustoday The Establishment has all but censored Dr. Sowell since he stopped supporting it.

[@darrenmanser2847]

And the fact that 99% of the population don't even know he exists should be sobering at best..

[@mikeford1273]

Absolutely spot on and yes Thomas Sowell is a genius

[@VinylCP]

Man is still working at what, 93? We are lucky to have his time.

[@StimParavane]

Not true. Engineers do not think this way and that allows the world to develop.

[@007bombastic]

@@StimParavanethat’s the reason they are in engineering and not politics. Terrible weak comparison.

[@StimParavane]

@@007bombastic Actually it's an excellent comparison. Clearly you have little practical connection with reality and live in the projections of your own ego.

[@superdavies5548]

​@StimParavane engineers make cost trade-offs every day. Why do you say they think differently?

[@davidforsythe3037]

Excellent conversation. Thomas Sowell is undervalued. What a great man

[@maxibrasch]

Two most sensible men…..should be listened to and heeded by leaders and general public

[@normalaverageeverydayguy2600]

My perspective has forever improved because an old guy in a bookstore told me to read TS. THANKS OLD GUY.

[@justinhinchliffe2355]

Beautifully quoted and said Konstantin. ❤

[@hurstmitchell6392]

I think you need to tell our politicians this important fact.

[@rushelm8101]

We need to speak to those who listen.

[@cze33e]

They will not understand it. Not our best and brightest by a loooong way.

[@whousa642]

They know. They are also evil.

[@philosiphydept]

Reality doesn't sell like a crisis Well done

[@classicalnotes539]

Great point! Sowell!

[@rushelm8101]

Sowell...a great man, a great mind.

[@dave131]

Unintended Consequences. So many in politics never consider them.

[@user-dn7iq6li9u]

Anyway, enough about Thatcher privatising the public utilities...😁

[@excalibro8365]

The thing is, I think the consequences are intended, or at least expected. Politics is a cutthroat world, and no idiot would ever make it to the top. I believe politicians know exactly what they are doing, and covid for example was the perfect opportunity for them to test the waters on how far they can impose control over people's lives.

[@mikitz]

It's never about what works but what sounds nice for the public.

[@deniserobertson7146]

I have great respect for Thomas Sowell. Did you know that many universities in California have banned his books?

[@jaybee9269]

Not too surprised. He’s fact-based, after all.

[@user-qo9tz8pq3d]

The last thing the comrades want is for the youth to know of somebody like Sowell.

[@ronja6791]

I have 13 of Sowell's books. In Liberty, Missouri there is a university called William Jewell College. The assistant ECONOMICS PROFESSOR was a customer of mine. He had never heard of Thomas Sowell and said he had "heard of Milton Friedman but he was never discussed" in any of his economics classes. That completely baffled me and the more I talked to him I realized he was very left-leaning. He was a Russian guy who came to the USA to go to school and ended up getting hired by the school. I couldn't believe that during his whole time there, from undergrad to finishing his PhD, they were successful in hiding Milton Friedman from him.

[@videobenny3]

The powers that be are in cahoots to cancel Dr Sowell.

[@tomchristian9932]

Great wisdom… thank you for your insights!

[@nonyadamnbusiness9887]

Something my wife said, "People want politicians to make everything better without changing anything."

[@davidseamans6151]

Thank you, Kisin, Sowell and Anderson. Brilliant video.

[@littlejimdavies30]

This very same idea has helped me not just reflect on geopolitics but my own judgement of my family members and how they affect my relationships. I used to be bitter at my mother for her poor choices. Now I realise that there are no solutions, only the best worst choice among a series of even worse alternatives.

[@psalm2forliberty577]

Agreed, somewhat. I still think there are certain Moral non-negotiables that must be stated as a "First Principle". First Principles must be stated clearly & seen as a grid through which we interpret facts & reality. I would modify Sowells excellent observation a bit: Any Solutions must take into account our mutually agreed upon First Principles (affirming / not violating them) and their effects & trade offs. First Principles: - "The Government that governs best, governs least" - Jefferson - "Men are endowed by their CREATOR certain inalienable Rights amongst which are Life Liberty and the pursuit (NOT guarantee) of happiness" - Jefferson, Declaration of Independence - The Bill of Rights = sacrosanct - The stability of Individuals Families & communities is stabilized by both formal & informal affirmations of the Christian faith - consistent with the freedom on Conscience & liberty - and testified to by the History of these united States since the Colonial establishment & Pilgrim Founding circa 1620. - All History taught to rising Generations will be done ✅ in Historical context according to original Source documentation. See what I mean ? How we live isn't a Home Depot or Walmart shopping list to be crossed off - but rather a Philosophical goal to be envisioned & lived out. No Solutions, only tradeoffs - uh yea but.....

[@johnchristie162]

Guys I think it’s time for you to travel in different circles to witness what wonderful solutions so many wonderful people have introduced that have helped millions of people around the world. Medical solution’s, engineering solutions etc have enhanced the lives of millions and continue to do so. Is it the corrupt political class and our corporate class that you’re referring to where money and greed rule at everybody’s expense. Even that could be transformed but the path to do so is well protected by those who benefit most.

[@timmothy58]

...and angels can pop up and surprise us at unexpected times...thank you thomas sowell...love...

[@carldavid1558]

However, there is no real solution for non existent problems.

[@TheShikaina]

So true we’re not going to solve these issues completely but we need to come up with solutions that we can all live with

[@steph4050]

Very well said. The problem with the government now is that they take a side without smartly debating it, and try to silence the other side of the trade off by force instead of dealing with it.

[@nickstoic2944]

By letting Mother Nature do its job it would balance things the right way. Thees guys are right, every time someone is attempting to fix an issue, other ones pop up.

[@mikeyh0]

Life isn't a problem to be solved. But if you compromise with evil, that is what you become.

[@johnvervaeke]

Unavoidable trade offs faced by complex self organizing systems trying to avoid being overwhelmed by real world complexity is at the heart of relevance realization theory.

[@MuyiwaMonehin]

Once I read "relevance realization", my mind questioned, 'Where is John Vervaeke? He must be somewhere in this room.' Is this the actual JV?

[@johnvervaeke]

@@MuyiwaMonehin Yes it is.

[@MuyiwaMonehin]

Awesome!❤

[@katherinescott7528]

Brilliant!!!!

[@kvom01]

Brilliant

[@Tara-Maya]

"Genius" is such a throw away word these days; it has as much value as 'racist'.

[@whousa642]

Ts is a genius

[@jaybee9269]

If you won’t casually dispute his opinion on anything, he’s probably a genius.

[@jamshedfbc]

Thomas Sowell ❤

[@connorduke4619]

And the global climate/weather does not require a solution, as it is not a problem to start with.

[@FuchsiaFire444]

There is always a solution

[@4k8t]

I think Sowell once related how being asked by a professor, repeatedly, "And then what" caused him to look into the implications and incentives that his proposed policy to a contemporary problem would produce and subsequent modifications would produce and subsequent modification would produce until he arrived at a point where he realized that the end result from that proposed policy was worse than the original problem. A solution occurs when there are no more trade offs. But were all trade offs considered? So when he criticizes failure to think beyond the first stage, he's saying "and then what". It is not so simple as many might want to believe.

[@myownchannel247]

When people talk about climate change I always laugh and turn off the video 😂

[@JoaoSoares-rs6ec]

I agree with him

[@1258-Eckhart]

"at the cost of others" - indeed, indeed, and when those others are very powerful lobbies (e.g. the weapons industry in Washington), politicians are NEVER up to selling the difficult trade offs. They will always give in, and they will never be called to account for this failure, which will be spun along the lines of "heroic struggle".

[@cee8mee]

Hopefully, "at the cost of others" refers to those able to weather the change.

[@noweternity3101]

Please Read:- ‘A Farewell To Virology’ by Dr Mark Bailey

[@dab42bridges80]

Nobody who's "in charge" really knows what they're doing any more than you do.

[@LAStars-sratS]

If you look at Truth rather then the narrative that Life feeds us, we would do a lot better. Truth be told, there are nothing but Solutions out there (especially when the fiction is removed).

[@littlebilly8747]

It’s hand to know sometimes which set of trade-offs are the less desirable ones. Sometimes both options seem good or both seem bad

[@suec9426]

Everything in life has its pros and cons.

[@DJCallidus]

As you age the Doctors offer painkillers rather than offering to repair you. It's a trade-off.

[@craigsaunders7037]

I'm a Sowell man. Do Do Do .......Do Do Do.

[@doubleboe7NYC]

The quote is, "There are no solutions, only compromises and trade-offs."

[@sigsfast]

100%

[@darrenhill8503]

100 percent on the money

[@eugenesteenhuisen4065]

When the gap between the opponents gets too big then these trade offs become meaningless. Especially when there is one party with a nefarious agenda.

[@allister8053]

The BBC are fantastic at doing this.... during the lockdown they had what I call the "word of the week". Can you remember them? One week Ventilators, next PPE..... they changed them that frequently that the Government was on constant catch-up (deliberately undermining them....maybe?) and pushed to rush "solutions" with the consequences of poor implementation (which was also pounced on by the BBC).... purchace of unnecessary Ventilators, rush to buy PPE from where ever and of poor quality.

[@stracepipe]

People historically vote Conservative because they think (rightly or wrongly) that the Tories do a better job on the economy. I believe the media and opposition pushed for a lockdown because they knew it would crash the economy, thus damaging the government.

[@rmthull]

There’s a cost to everything.

[@gregchambers6100]

We solved the Ozone crisis and the HVAC industry made a lot of money. We've solved a lot of pollution problems with cogeneration that makes money for paper mills, feed lots and other formerly stinky production facilities. We've solved a lot of dangerous problems on construction sites. Just because these types of people weren't trained to solve problems doesn't mean that those of us who do solve problems don't exist.

[@blackukulele]

In general, I agree. There is one important exception. John 14:6

[@beastaa666]

Tradeoffs dont usually happen because the loss part of the deal may cost money that is pouring into the architect of the issues pockets. Like covid and any war since WW1

[@edenbreckhouse]

The narrative that there's always a solution, that every problem can be solved - is both pervasive and dangerous.

[@user-dn7iq6li9u]

True, but it's not applicable in 100% of cases. Replacing the absolute claim that there's always a solution with one from the opposite end of the spectrum, that there are none is beyond dumb.

[@GreenMorningDragonProductions]

If there are no solutions, only trade-offs, can somebody explain how the concept of "win-win" is still a thing?

[@muxion]

i would consider a mutually acceptable compromise as a win-win because it’s working for both parties

[@user-dn7iq6li9u]

@@muxion And how is that not a solution to the prior point of non-agreement both parties began at?

[@PetetG]

HONESTY IS THE FORGOTTEN COMMODITY…

[@viorelgheorghe9772]

I think Thomas Shoeless is quoting Milton Friedman when he says that!

[@johnqpublic331]

They were both right then.

[@bengun1]

Logic and reason or feelings and perceptions......

[@2trichoptera]

Sowell should be required reading for everyone. Trade offs a big concept in ecology.

[@RhetoricalMuse]

KK sounds more centre-right that centrist. But he has admitted that he is 'working out his political standing'.

[@PapaChummy]

Aren’t we all.

[@ellow8m]

Maybe you should read the Meadows report so you could understand what is the problem

[@jayturner3397]

😊

[@lesrankins5025]

I can solve nhs. It has 1.7M employees of which 611,000 are medical professionals. Sack about 900,000 people who actually don't have ANYTHING to do with patient care. See, problem solved.

[@user-dn7iq6li9u]

It should be phased out, and replaced with universal insurance. Japan doesn't have an NHS, just National Insurance. The healthcare provision is all private. I have referred myself to private specialists, whenever I've had a problem, e.g. knee ligaments, detached retina, cataracts, and have been seen within an hour - none of that GP gatekeeper nonsense, referring you to a specialist, and sticking you on a waiting list. I can see whichever specialist I like, whenever I like and have NEVER been on a waiting list.

[@user-dn7iq6li9u]

Absolutist claptrap. There are sometimes trade-offs and there are sometimes solutions. Classic conservative cop out-ery.

[@dannowell269]

Please provide one example

[@cze33e]

I agree with bot.

[@user-dn7iq6li9u]

@@dannowell269 How about ten? The Declaration of Neutrality by Switzerland, agreed by all major European Powers (1815); The Abolition of Slavery in the British Empire (1833); The Emancipation Proclamation (1863); Unanimous vote in the UK Parliament for war on September 3, 1939; The Declaration of War on Japan (1941); Allied demand for unconditional surrender of the Axis powers (1943); Surrender of the axis powers (1945); The Allied occupation of Japan (1945); Unanimous apology of Canadian Parliament to LGBTQ people who had been criminalised, historically (2018); Unanimous vote to call a general election by the UK Parliament, (2019).

[@user-dn7iq6li9u]

@@dannowell269 Whoops, I almost forgot to trigger you with a tree-hugging one - the Montreal Protocol of 1987, banning CFCs, and solving the problem of the hole in the ozone layer. Without the actual existence of "solutions" the concept of "win-win" must also not exist.

[@HornedGod66]

​@@user-dn7iq6li9u Every single one of those came with a cost.

[@briandonnelly638]

If you look at how a free country dealt with covid, we as a people failed miserably.

[@notreallydavid]

True, there are tradeoffs - but that doesn't mean progress is impossible. Most of the progress the west had made has come about because innumerable net positive changes have been made. I'm sure Dr Sowell would have no hesitation in assenting to this, and noting the shortcomings of systems advocated by the west's detractors.

[@mikitz]

I'd love having Sowell run for presidency, despite being even Joe's senior by over ten years. Let's just say he is old enough.

[@jimjoe9945]

Jesus is the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the father but through him.

[@annodnosinut3485]

Konstantin described Thomas Sowell perfectly. It is refreshing to hear someone who is talking rationally, which includes Douglas Murray, Jordan Peterson, Thomas Sowell, and Konstantin, the voices of reason.

[@johnwiles4391]

Should Julius Streicher been sentenced to death a Nuremburg? All he did was publish and speak. He did not engage in any actions worthy of the death penalty (so far as I know).

[@plantfeeder6677]

The fact Kisen thinks there is something to solve involving cc is his biggest flaw here. They're lying to you Konstantin. They have to change history to make their "hypothesis" be credible. Stop this path you are on please!

[@rvsteve583]

cherish T.S. he's old now

[@martinheath5947]

I'm so sick of hearing about our involvement in "climate change".So how much did the planet cool down or indeed warm up while we had no air travel, limited car use and were all locked down for two years?

[@markjones2781]

Nah, there are solutions. This is not just a zero sum game of shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic. Now, these solutions are always going to be complex, nuanced and partial. But taking things forward, living in a better world, and making progress is real! I think Steven Pinker does a better job overall that demonstrating this is true than most analysts out there. If we work hard, focus on what the data shows us to be true, and never loose hope -- one day, we will make it to the promised land.

[@PhilJonesIII]

In a society, I believe it is the expected perfect solution that cannot happen. Yes, absolutely we have moved forward with great strides in many way though mostly unappreciated and rapidly taken for granted.

[@ORagnar]

"Not going to solve climate change." -- Well, really, there is no such problem. This is a manufactured problem. 4/23/24, 10:22 a.m.

[@rudilambert1065]

I think you're making a mistake in your thinking... You're talking about politics... which is ideas about ideas... but when you're looking at the real world, say like an engineer... there most certainly solutions. The fact that politicians don't solve problems doesn't mean that that is what the world is like... It's what politics are like. Probably mostly because of the politicians themselves. On the whole they're not the brightest people in the world... Those are doing science and engineering.

[@DJWESG1]

Mitigation isnt from this thomas chap.

[@comment8454]

comment

[@gravytrain8611]

Thomas Sowell for president

[@gregbendermaexpatajarn80k38]

Why would you attempt to change the climate that has been changing for 4.5 billion years? That makes no sense. The climate always changes and is very volatile. You would have better luck herding cats.

[@StimParavane]

Not true. Engineers do not think this way and that allows the world to develop.

[@MrBahjatt]

Tomas Sowell is an intellectual lightweight.

[@tomsmith6045]

MrBahjatt - Speaks the flea of the elephant.

[@MrBahjatt]

@@tomsmith6045 He is the one relegated to a footnote of history. He has no real contributions to make beyond blaming the victims of discrimination for their status.

[@whousa642]

He does go over most people’s head! Don’t blame yourself

[@Rambleon444]

@@MrBahjatt LOL! "Sowell is the author of more than 45 books (including revised and new editions) on a variety of subjects including politics, economics, education and race, and he has been a syndicated columnist in more than 150 newspapers" Give me an example of your idea of an intellectual heavyweight.

[@MrBahjatt]

@@Rambleon444 He can write as many books as he wants, but they are propaganda pieces disguised as intellect.

[@dannysullivan3951]

A sign of Kisin’s youth or maybe his conservativism, but Sowell’s quote is ridiculously childish. I call polio vaccines a solution, just like numerous medical advances in my lifetime. ‘You’re not going to solve climate change?’ Funny how you can take simplistic aphorism and use it to deny taking action on a dire, world wide problem. If Sowell is such a genius, why is he relegated to conservative KZbin? He’s a lightweight, dogmatic conservative who never, never veers from the party line. Even in economics he’s considered a journeyman.

[@xyqiew]

Oh, but there is The Final Solution...

[@basskat1440]

Brilliant!