Being Logical: A Guide to Good Thinking

Skepticism:

There are two levels skepticism: extreme and moderate. Extreme skepticism means that there is no truth, while moderate skepticism means that some truth is accepted

Evasive Agnosticism

AN agnostic is someone who lacks enough information on something to make a judgement about it. AN agnostic neither denies nor accepts the truth. A person who is agnostic uses ignorance as an excuse.

Narrow Mindedness:

Narrow Mindedness is when a person limits their knowledge. They might be able to find out more, but they don't want to.

Example:

Narrow Mindedness:

IF there was an election, and a person simply voted for someone because they were either a democrat or a republican, this would be narrow mindedness. However, if someone voted for a candidate because they agreed on issues, it would not be narrow
minded.

Knowledge Issues

1) How can humans communicate effectively if we are missing senses? How true can our interpretations of those communications be?

2) How can synesthesia affect what we know?

Logical Fallacies

False Dilemma

A False Dilemma is when someone makes two statements and then one of them is discovered to be false, so the other statement must be true, even though it might be false.

An example of a false dilemma:

Either I buy a car, or I am going to have to get a ride from someone else.

False Dilemma Example

Appeal to Tradition

An Appeal to Tradition Fallacy is when something is declared to be better simply because it older.

Molly: I love my new iPod!
Emilie: I only listen to records, they are way better.

False Dilemma example

Appeal to Novelty

An Appeal to Novelty Fallacy is a fallacy that occurs because someone thinks that something is better simply because it is newer.

Appeal to Novelty Example