We Should Know Better
In an era of unprecedented access to information and technological advancement, we often find ourselves puzzled by our collective inability to solve persistent problems. Despite vast knowledge at our fingertips, we continue to make decisions that contradict what we know to be true. This paradox—knowing better but not doing better—defines many of our individual and societal challenges today. From climate change to public health, from economic inequality to education reform, we possess the knowledge to create meaningful change, yet implementation lags far behind understanding. This disconnect between knowing and doing represents one of the greatest obstacles to human progress in the modern age.
The reasons for this gap are complex and multifaceted. Cognitive biases deeply embedded in human psychology often prevent us from acting on information that challenges our existing beliefs or requires immediate sacrifice for long-term gain. Our brains, evolved for a different era, struggle with abstract threats and delayed consequences. Furthermore, powerful social and economic structures frequently work against change, even when that change would benefit the majority. Special interests with resources to protect the status quo can effectively block progress, regardless of scientific consensus or moral imperatives. These barriers aren’t insurmountable, but they do explain why “knowing better” doesn’t automatically translate into “doing better” on both personal and societal scales.
Looking at specific examples illuminates this phenomenon. Climate scientists have warned about global warming for decades, yet meaningful policy action remains insufficient compared to the scale of the crisis. Public health experts unanimously endorse vaccination, yet hesitancy persists and even grows in some communities. Economists broadly agree on policies that would reduce poverty and inequality, but political will to implement them often falters. In each case, the knowledge exists—we should know better—but various forces impede translation of this knowledge into effective action. The consequences of this disconnect continue to accumulate, affecting vulnerable populations disproportionately and threatening future generations with problems that could have been addressed earlier.
On a more personal level, this phenomenon appears in our daily lives. We know we should exercise regularly, limit screen time, save for retirement, and maintain meaningful social connections—yet many of us struggle to act consistently on this knowledge. The gap between intention and action isn’t simply a matter of willpower; it reflects the genuine difficulty of changing established patterns and resisting immediate gratification. Modern life, with its constant distractions and demands, further complicates our ability to act on what we know to be best. The result is a society where many individuals feel perpetually behind, always aware of how they should be living but unable to bridge the gap between knowledge and implementation.
Progress is possible, however. Throughout history, humanity has overcome seemingly intractable problems through persistence, innovation, and collective action. When we acknowledge the barriers between knowing and doing—recognizing that information alone is insufficient—we can design more effective approaches to change. Behavioral science offers insights into how to structure choices and environments that make better decisions easier. Community-based movements demonstrate how shared purpose can overcome individual inertia. And technologies, when thoughtfully deployed, can help align our actions with our knowledge rather than distract us from it. These success stories share a common thread: they address not just what we know, but the complex reasons why we don’t act on what we know.
Moving forward requires humility about our limitations alongside determination to overcome them. We must recognize that “we should know better” isn’t merely a criticism but a call to action—an acknowledgment that knowledge creates responsibility. The greatest challenges facing humanity today aren’t primarily problems of insufficient information but insufficient implementation. By understanding the gap between knowing and doing, we can work more effectively to close it, creating systems and cultures that translate our best knowledge into consistent action. This may be the defining work of our time: not merely to know better, but finally to do better, bridging the distance between what we understand and how we live.
