Are you a soldier defending a position or a scout seeking the truth?

History · Published 8 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: When your core beliefs are challenged, do you fight to protect them or search for accuracy? Decision-making expert Julia Galef suggests our mental approach to information falls into two categories: the soldier or the scout. This fundamental mindset determines whether we see the world clearly or merely defend our own existing viewpoints.

The soldier mindset is driven by a need to protect one's own side and defeat an perceived enemy. Much like a combatant in battle, a person in this mindset experiences elevated adrenaline and relies on ingrained reflexes to defend their position at all costs. In this mode, information is not a tool for discovery, but a weapon to be used in defense of a pre-existing belief. This instinctual reaction is often triggered by heightened adrenaline. Such reflexes are deeply rooted in the primal need to protect oneself and one's allies.

Conversely, the scout mindset is defined by curiosity and the desire to map the terrain of reality. The scout's objective is not to attack or defend, but to understand the world as accurately as possible, identifying obstacles and mapping out the truth. This mindset is essential for making sound judgments and effective decisions in daily life. By mapping out potential hazards, the scout identifies what lies ahead. This commitment to accuracy is vital for navigating complex situations.

The dangers of a soldier mindset are vividly illustrated by the Dreyfus Affair in 1894. Following the discovery of torn-up papers in a wastepaper basket, French general staff officers suspected Alfred Dreyfus of selling military secrets to Germany. Despite his sterling record and a lack of motive, the officers' anti-Semitic biases led them to conclude he was guilty. When searches of his apartment yielded no evidence, the officers did not reconsider their verdict; instead, they used the lack of evidence as proof of his sneakiness, demonstrating how a soldier mindset can twist facts to support a predetermined conclusion. The investigation began after officers found scraps of paper in a bin. They eventually focused their suspicions on a single man.

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