A cognitive
bias that consists of overestimating formal logic as a sufficient tool for discovering
truth, and underestimating the role of experience, intuition, and context. Those who suffer from Logical
Bias believe that any question can be resolved with
valid deductive arguments, and that if a conclusion is logically coherent, it is true. In practice, logic is merely an instrument of validity (if the premises are true, the conclusion follows), but it says nothing about the
truth of the premises. Logical Bias leads a person to construct flawless syllogisms from false or incomplete premises – and to defend the argument as if it were irrefutable. It is common in extreme rationalist philosophies, in online “logic” debates (where the opponent is accused of “fallacy” even when the argument is substantial), and in people who confuse the ability to
win verbal debates with the ability to understand the
world.
Logical
Bias Example: “The debater argued: ‘Every human being is rational; you are human; therefore you are rational. Therefore, if you disagree with me, you are irrational. The argument is logically
valid.’ He ignored that the premise ‘every human being is rational’ is false. Logical
bias in full flight.”