Cognitive bias or fallacy

Person 1 hands in source as proof of his claims.

But the source is actually proof against him.

Person 2 points out that the source is proofing him wrong.

Person 1 claims that Person 2 does not understand the evidence.

Is this an appeal to ignorance or is it some sort of cognitive bias?

asked on Tuesday, Sep 15, 2020 04:24:20 AM by Mr.T

Top Categories Suggested by Community

Comments

Dr. Richard writes:

Assuming the evidence actually does show P1 to be in error, then I think we are looking at Cognitive Dissonance (or worse, Backfire).

There is also the possibility P2 does not understand the evidence in sufficient context.

Either way, the next step in the conversation, if I were P2, would be to ask P1 in what manner I failed to understand and have him explain it to me in terms I could grasp. If I were P1, just the reverse, I would seek to grasp why P2 did not see the link I saw between the evidence and the proof of the proposition.

posted on Tuesday, Sep 15, 2020 12:10:46 PM

Want to get notified of all questions as they are asked? Update your mail preferences and turn on "Instant Notification."

Uncomfortable Ideas: Facts don't care about feelings. Science isn't concerned about sensibilities. And reality couldn't care less about rage.

This is a book about uncomfortable ideas—the reasons we avoid them, the reasons we shouldn’t, and discussion of dozens of examples that might infuriate you, offend you, or at least make you uncomfortable.

Many of our ideas about the world are based more on feelings than facts, sensibilities than science, and rage than reality. We gravitate toward ideas that make us feel comfortable in areas such as religion, politics, philosophy, social justice, love and sex, humanity, and morality. We avoid ideas that make us feel uncomfortable. This avoidance is a largely unconscious process that affects our judgment and gets in the way of our ability to reach rational and reasonable conclusions. By understanding how our mind works in this area, we can start embracing uncomfortable ideas and be better informed, be more understanding of others, and make better decisions in all areas of life.

Get 20% off this book and all Bo's books*. Use the promotion code: websiteusers

* This is for the author's bookstore only. Applies to autographed hardcover, audiobook, and ebook.

Get the Book

Answers

Bo Bennett, PhD 1	This would best be an example of the Overconfidence Effect, a cognitive bias that leads one to be much more confident in their position than the evidence warrants (or reality dictates). This is often the case when someone is factually (objectively) wrong but is convinced they are right.
	answered on Tuesday, Sep 15, 2020 07:27:05 AM by Bo Bennett, PhD
Bo Bennett, PhD Suggested These Categories
Comments