The Most Thought-Provoking TED Talks of all Time
A TEDx Talk is an event where speakers deliver unique, well-formed ideas in less than 18 minutes. Because it only requires the audience’s attention for a brief length of time, a TEDx Talk is a showcase for speakers presenting brilliant, well-formed ideas in under 18 minutes, and it reduces the danger of minds wandering or fantasizing about lunch. Some of our most memorable TED Talks have been as little as 5 minutes!
The following are some of the most thought-provoking TED speeches ever.
Lucinda Beaman:
“A guy who is persuaded against his will is still of his opinion.” Have you ever tried to persuade someone to change their views when they weren’t entirely convinced? Isn’t it impossible? Lucinda Beaman, the fact check editor at The Conversation, sees firsthand the clash between facts and ideas. She provides a framework for figuring out how we process information and communicate with others who disagree with us.
John Michael Phillips:
John Michael Phillips is an American lawyer, consumer and civil rights activist, and legal commentator. He is licensed to practice law in Florida, New York, and several other states across the US. Phillips has handled several high-profile cases across the country as lead counsel. For example, John represented Lucy McBath and Ron Davis after Jordan Davis shot Jacksonville, Florida.
John has appeared in many shows like CNN and TEDx Talks. In his TED talk, John talked about the hypocrisy of people about gender equality. According to Phillips, the hypocrisy expressed in this sentence hasn’t altered much since 1776. When slavery was abolished in 1865, this was not the case. Not until women were granted the right to vote in 1920, not even after the black vote was guaranteed in 1965. Still not after 30 states approved Stand Your Ground laws, which gave residents the unalienable right to kill based on subjective fear. Because the government cannot legislate a road to something that must come from the heart, the scales of justice stay imbalanced, equality isn’t something that can be reprogrammed. It is not possible to restart it. It must have cared. It must be encouraged. Please see John’s TED lecture here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrzJyrlSoFE.
Isaac Lidsky:
Reality is what you construct in your mind, not something you perceive. Isaac Lidsky acquired this important lesson directly as he encountered unexpected life events that provided him with vital insights. He questions the concept of cognitive dissonance in this introspective, personal presentation and asks us to let go of excuses, preconceptions, and anxieties and accept the incredible responsibility of being the producers of our reality.
You might not be able to get these TED talks out of your head once you’ve seen them. However, these talks have a long shelf life, and we’re sure you’ll find yourself thinking about them frequently as you go about your daily routine.