I find that people tend to look for a singular cause; a trail of evidence that leads to only one correct conclusion. It's an attitude exploited by crime dramas, TV shows, literature, etc.
Reality, of course, is far more complex, and I think Rosling is trying to play to those biases in human nature in order to influence people. Pointing to one inherent "truth" in the data is far more effective in convincing people than "it's complicated".
> Pointing to one inherent "truth" in the data is far more effective in convincing people than "it's complicated".
Yep and this is my biggest problem with populist "thinkers" like Gladwell and Rosling. They actually encourage the opposite of thinking; providing ready made simplistic conclusions for their audience.
Sure, but that's just human nature, and even if it weren't, there isn't enough time for everyone to understand everything. A civilization at our level of sophistication requires specialization. I think the best you can hope for is intellectual honesty from these guys.
Reality, of course, is far more complex, and I think Rosling is trying to play to those biases in human nature in order to influence people. Pointing to one inherent "truth" in the data is far more effective in convincing people than "it's complicated".