Sacred Values: How Our Deepest Convictions Lead Us Astray | Dr. Steven Sloman – EP 715
Passion Struck with John R. Miles
Passion Struck Network
4.9 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 13 January 2026
⏱️ 54 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
What if many of our most heated debates and divisions aren't really about facts or outcomes, but about clinging to sacred values that feel absolute and non-negotiable?
In this eye-opening episode of Passion Struck, cognitive scientist Dr. Steven Sloman joins John R. Miles to unpack his groundbreaking book, The Cost of Conviction: How Our Deepest Values Lead Us Astray (MIT Press, May 2025).
Drawing on decades of research into how we think individually and collectively, Steven reveals why we often prioritize "right vs. wrong" sacred values over practical consequences—leading to oversimplification, outrage, polarization, and even extremism. From the illusion of explanatory depth (where we overestimate our understanding) to taboo and tragic trade-offs, this conversation explores how sacred values unite communities, define identities, and drive history, yet also create barriers to dialogue on issues such as abortion, immigration, climate change, and political conflict.
John and Steven dive into real-world examples: the rise of zealotry from ancient Judea to modern times, the shifting values among young men, the role of belonging in group identity, and why reframing conversations around consequences (rather than slogans) offers a path to better decisions, adversarial cooperation, and reduced division. At its heart, this episode is a call to question certainty, respect expertise, and balance conviction with humility—reminding us that true wisdom lies in thinking harder about outcomes, even when sacred values feel compelling.
Passion Struck was recently ranked #1 on FeedSpot’s list of the Top Passion Podcasts on the Web, recognizing the show’s ongoing commitment to thoughtful, human-centered conversations like this one.
Check the full show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/sacred-values-cost-of-conviction-steven-sloman/
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All links gathered here, including books, Substack, YouTube, and Start Mattering apparel: https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles
Pre-order You Matter, Luma - https://youmatterluma.com/
For more about Dr. Steven Sloman: https://copsy.brown.edu/people/steven-sloman
Purchase The Cost of Conviction: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262049825/the-cost-of-conviction/ (Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook)
In this episode, you will learn
- Why sacred values simplify decisions but often ignore real consequences, fueling polarization and conflict
- The difference between consequentialist thinking (outcomes-focused) and sacred values (right/wrong actions)
- How the knowledge illusion leads us to rely on community slogans rather than deep understanding
- What taboo tradeoffs (refusing to compromise sacred values for gain) and tragic tradeoffs (competing sacred values) reveal about human nature
- Why sacred values tie us to belonging and identity, but drive us to distinguish and demonize "the other side."
- Practical ways to spot sacred value reliance: Ask "Why am I doing this?" and focus on explainable consequences
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Coming up next on Passionstruck. |
| 0:02.1 | If you really want to make good decisions, you need people with contrasting views to yours, right? |
| 0:09.5 | You don't necessarily need them to generate ideas, to generate hypotheses, but you need them to test those ideas. |
| 0:19.4 | Like the best way to perfect your own thinking is to describe it to |
| 0:25.6 | someone who disagrees with you vehemently. And that way you'll construct really good arguments. |
| 0:32.6 | Welcome to Passionstruck. I'm your host, John Miles. This is the show where we explore the art of human flourishing and what it truly means to live like it matters. |
| 0:42.3 | Each week, I sit down with change makers, creators, scientists, and everyday heroes to decode the human experience |
| 0:49.3 | and uncover the tools that help us lead with meaning, heal what hurts, and pursue the fullest expression |
| 0:55.2 | of who we're capable of becoming. Whether you're designing your future, developing as a leader, |
| 1:00.4 | or seeking deeper alignment in your life, this show is your invitation to grow with purpose |
| 1:05.5 | and act with intention. Because the secret to a life of deep purpose, connection, and impact is choosing to live like you matter. |
| 1:20.2 | Hey friends and welcome back to episode 715 of Passionstruck. |
| 1:24.5 | We're now into week two of our new series, The Meaning Makers, where we're exploring |
| 1:28.2 | how humans construct meaning and what happens when those structures begin to fail. |
| 1:32.8 | Over the past few episodes, we've been examining what sustains a life once momentum is no |
| 1:37.4 | longer the problem, and meaning becomes the question. |
| 1:40.9 | Last week, we kicked off the series with Dr. Stephen Post, exploring meaning as a biological |
| 1:46.5 | and relational necessity, how compassion, contribution, and unlimited love don't just feel good, |
| 1:52.6 | but stabilize the human system itself. |
| 1:55.1 | Then world-renowned poet Mark Nippo went inward into presence, acceptance, and the discipline of living truthfully |
| 2:02.5 | once the external metrics of success stop working. But today we turn to a more uncomfortable |
| 2:08.3 | and essential question. What happens when the very beliefs that give our life's meaning |
... |
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