Like everyone, you probably want to avoid being misled, or sold a duff steer. If you are informing yourself on any topic that relates to your lifestyle choices or to your happiness and well-being you need to be confident that the ideas you hear and take on board are sound. To do this you need to be aware of logical fallacies.

Listen to this weeks podcast interview with Bo Bennet for an overview and explanation of logical fallacies. Hit the play button above, listen on iTunes, or watch the video below.

What is a logical fallacy?

A logical fallacy is an error of reasoning. It is an apparently believable proposition that on closer scrutiny has no sound or logical argument beneath it. There is no reason to believe it. It amounts to an empty assertion of truth without substance. Unfortunately, logical fallacies are rife in the mainstream narrative today, and consequently a great many beliefs are held literally without reasons behind them. Yet reason is ouronly guide to knowledge, to truth.

Why you need to know about sound reasoning

To succeed in any endeavour you need to know the truth and be relatively certain of it – otherwise you will be doomed to failure. We live in a context where lies and untruth abound. The ‘news’ media and the official sources of information are heavily polluted with false ideas masquerading as truth. But they all have one achilles heal, one weakness that makes it easy for you and I to spot them. They all lack a sound rational argument under-pinning them to provide a reason for believing them. This is the same with any information or idea that is not true.

If you learn to look for (and demand) sound reasoning, you are far less likely to be fooled. The awareness of logical fallacies is a key starting point in honing your own reasoning and critical thinking skills. When you can spot ideas presented in an apparentlyconvincing way that are in fact baseless and without reason you are wellon your way to being accurately informed.

Resources

Checkout the website for Bo Bennett’s book logicallyfallacious.com and also his website bobennett.com

Also Visit the website yourlogicalfallacyis.com for more

There is also logicalfallacies.org

Or, how about the skeptics guide to the Universe here.

Most importantly of all make sure you understand why reason is your only guide to knowledge.

Go forth and be rational! 🙂

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