Only if you are truly open to the possibility of being wrong can you ever learn, says researcher Alex Edmans. In an insightful talk, he explores how confirmation bias -- the tendency to only accept information that supports your personal beliefs -- can lead you astray on social media, in politics and beyond, and offers three practical tools for finding evidence you can actually trust. (Hint: appoint someone to be the devil's advocate in your life.)

Alex Edmans: What to trust in a "post-truth" world

What to trust in a "post-truth" world

Confirmation bias leads us astray, making us uncritically accept stories that fit our beliefs, ignoring contrary evidence.

Confirmation bias deceives us into seeing single stories as true data, ignoring vital broader context and possible alternatives.

Embrace dissent, seek expertise, and critically assess data to combat the post-truth era's influence on perception and decision-making.