Thursday, June 26, 2014

Deductive Fallacy: Explanation

We usually presume life as linear. A happens because of B, B happens because of C. This leads us to conclude that because C happens, A must happen. This is not always the case. 

Suppose that you have just lost your job. Maybe it is because of that lazy yet unforgiving manager that does nothing behind the door. This manager, you assume, hates you. He gives you tasks that are always tiring, never giving you rest. And after all that, he fires you! 

You come home, head down, eyes tearing up and fists clenched. You are mad, really mad. After day after day of hardwork, this is how you are treated? Your rage gets worse, and your mind is blurred. You blurt out curses, deciding that you now hate the world. 

This temper never leaves you, and in your new, more awesome job, your anger prevents you from working as hard as you did with your previous awful manager. Lesson learnt, you said, and your mind is set on this is statement: 

"The last time I worked hard, I got fired. Why work hard this time?"

Maybe it is true that manager despises you. But look at fate: you got a new, much better job because of him firing you! But anger and hate still linger, stopping you from doing you absolute best. Why? 

When your mind settles on an opinion, usually, it is very hard to rid of that opinion. Our minds are set to analyse the facts, and piece them together to form a statement. This is called deductive fallacy. 

The facts may be true, but the conclusion, and the resulting action, is false. 


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