The world has changed. Information is infinite, attention is scarce, and synthetic fluency means language is no longer a reliable signal of truth. This chapter explains why your inherited way of knowing is no longer enough—and why epistemology has become a survival skill for the decades ahead.

This accessible SE Press feature unpacks the Neural Pathway Fallacy (NPF)—the trap of mistaking neural or cognitive familiarity for evidence or truth. Drawing on leading OSF research, it explains why NPF is a powerful engine for misinformation and shows how SE Press communication tools and cognitive audits empower readers to detect and overcome this bias in everyday life. Written for the general public and educators, it’s a practical guide to thinking beyond your brain’s comf