Why do we struggle to live according to what we already know? This second article in the series explores how the meanings we give to what we know can shape our decisions, relationships, work, and lives—and why understanding those meanings may help reveal the missing link between knowledge and human flourishing.

We live in an era of unmatched knowledge. Never before have we learned so much about the brain, behavior, and human decision-making. Fields like neuroscience and behavioral psychology have uncovered how habits form, how motivation functions, and why people often act against their own intentions. Yet, despite this surge of knowledge, many of the world’s most persistent problems still exist. People and nations continue to engage in behaviors they know are harmful.