Lecture Notes: Emotional Intelligence and Public Policy

Key Concepts

• Emotional Intelligence vs. Rational Intelligence
  • Wisdom is tied to emotional intelligence rather than rationality.
  • Rational intelligence can be hijacked by emotions.
  • Emotional intelligence helps us navigate our selfish biological instincts.

Contribution to Indonesia 2045

• The importance of understanding public policy for solving structural problems.
• Encouragement to learn policy analysis for contributions across sectors (government, business, non-profits).
• Mention of notable figures in public policy (e.g., Ban Ki-Moon, Lee Hsien Loong, Rachel Maddow).
• Introduction to SGPP Indonesia, the first public policy school in Indonesia.

Guest Introduction: Dr. Ryu Hasan

• Background:
  • Born into a religious family and diagnosed with autism.
  • Faced challenges in early education but eventually pursued medicine.
• Neurosurgeon Journey:
  • Transitioned from medical school to specializing in neurosurgery out of curiosity.
  • Realization that medicine is not just science but involves technology and morals.

Personal Reflections on Childhood and Emotions

• Dr. Hasan's unique childhood experiences shaped his understanding of emotions.
• Emphasized the importance of manners as a social mechanism for cooperation.
• Insight into the role of emotional intelligence in interpersonal relationships.

Reading Culture and Emotional Intelligence

• Discussion on the importance of cultivating a reading culture in society.
• Reading correlates with happiness; nations with high happiness indices have higher reading rates.
• Daniel Goleman’s "Emotional Intelligence":
  • Sparked Dr. Hasan's interest in neuroscience and human behavior.
  • Emphasized that emotions drive decisions more than rationality.

Intelligence and Cooperation

• Intelligence is defined by survival capability both at individual and species levels.
• Human intelligence has evolved, leading to longer life expectancies and better understanding of health.
• Emotional intelligence enhances quality of life and societal productivity.

Polarization and Collaboration

• Difficulty in collaboration is exacerbated by cognitive limitations and rapid changes in society.
• The importance of narratives in forming social bonds and cooperation.
• Emphasized the need for emotional intelligence in overcoming societal challenges.

Technology and Future of Humanity

• Technology can enhance collaboration but also poses challenges in distinguishing facts from fiction.
• Cognitive Immunity: Humans are struggling to filter valid information due to an overwhelming amount of content.
• Emphasized the need for community-based approaches to tackle disinformation.

Ethics and Morality in Decision Making

• Wisdom involves moral decisions, often requiring sacrifices for the greater good.
• Discussed experiences from Japan to illustrate cultural norms that promote emotional intelligence.

Climate Change and Sustainability

• Concerns about humanity's role in climate change and the need for collaborative solutions.
• Humanity's ability to combat entropy through technology and cooperation.
• The future requires a balance between technological advancement and emotional intelligence.

Conclusion

• Encouraged the pursuit of wisdom as a collective value, integrating emotional intelligence in societal frameworks.
• The evolution of human cooperation and emotional intelligence is vital for future sustainability and happiness.