The metaphor comes from an essay by Isaiah Berlin, who in turn got it from an ancient Greek poet. You’re right that the metaphor doesn’t match our animal stereotypes, but it has become pretty entrenched.
Agree the animal metaphor doesn’t help very well. I have some stereotype for fox (cunningness, slyness, trickster etc...), but draw a blank for hedgehog.
As to whether the dichotomy is real, well I think it’s a useful model to question one’s judgement. A better question would be is it more useful than say “system1 vs system2 ” model (or pick another model.).
Is the animal metaphor helpful? I don’t think of either stereotype when I hear “fox” or “hedgehog”. For that matter, is the dichotomy real?
The metaphor comes from an essay by Isaiah Berlin, who in turn got it from an ancient Greek poet. You’re right that the metaphor doesn’t match our animal stereotypes, but it has become pretty entrenched.
Agree the animal metaphor doesn’t help very well. I have some stereotype for fox (cunningness, slyness, trickster etc...), but draw a blank for hedgehog.
As to whether the dichotomy is real, well I think it’s a useful model to question one’s judgement. A better question would be is it more useful than say “system1 vs system2 ” model (or pick another model.).