Faith Quote by Thomas Gilovich
““We hold many dubious beliefs, in other words, not because they satisfy some important psychological need, but because they seem to be the most sensible conclusions consistent with the available evidence. People hold such beliefs because they seem, in the words of Robert Merton, to be the “irresistible products of their own experience.”7 They are the products, not of irrationality, but of flawed rationality.””
About This Quote
Source Book: “How We Know What Isn't True”, Thomas Gilovich, 2019
People adopt beliefs that appear logical given their experiences, even if those beliefs are based on flawed reasoning.
In simple terms: We trust ideas that fit our experience, even if flawed.
Key Takeaway
Question the logical basis of your convictions.
Themes
cognitive bias
psychology
epistemology
Mood
skeptical
analytical
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- critical thinking workshops
- media literacy
- decision making
Key Concepts
confirmation bias
heuristics
belief formation
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we cling to comfortable but inaccurate beliefs?
- How can we improve rational evaluation?
A Different Perspective
Beliefs may persist despite contradictory evidence.
