Principles v. practicalities

Sometimes we need to put data in the context of our real lives and set aside principle.

I recently came across a 2023 study that showed how reading a text improves comprehension and recall compared to listening to an audio version of the same text.

I could decide, in response, that I'm only going to read books rather than listen to them.

Except, on an average day at this stage of my life, between work and parenting, I have maybe one-and-a-half hours of active time that can be spent reading. Conversely, up to eight hours can be spent with an audiobook playing in the background.

So I've decided, despite evidence that reading is better for critical thinking, I'm (mostly) going to keep listening (for now).

That feels different than deciding something like this:

Despite evidence that major social media platforms are causing harm to our mental health and community discourse, I'm going to continue utilizing them because, after all, they are unparalleled resources for connection, information, and activism.

When leaning on practicalities means casting a vote for harm, we've usually left the realm of the practical.

Fortunately and unfortunately, our big brains have empowered all of us to navigate the divide between Heaven (ideals) and Earth (practicalities), hopefully in search of better.