Reasoning
Reasoning is the process of drawing conclusions from data, premises, experiences, or rules.
Definition
Reasoning allows you to organize information, create hypotheses, evaluate arguments, and choose action. It may be deductive, inductive, abductive or practical. Its quality depends on the input data, clarity of concepts, awareness of cognitive biases and willingness to correct.
Key ideas
- Inference
- Evaluation of the premises
- Error correction
Practice and life
Before an important conclusion, write down the premises that support it and one premise that could weaken it.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to confuse a logical-sounding conclusion with a real conclusion. It is also a mistake to ignore the quality of the input data.
> Reasoning is the bridge between data, meaning, and the choice of action.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- What premises am I using?
- Does the conclusion really follow from them?
- What data could change my reasoning?