Overcoming faulty reasoning

[violet]

I work with a very left-wing/big-state person that described today why he thinks "conservatives" are always wrong. His view is that they use inductive reasoning to form improper conclusions.

 

Inductive reasoning = creating a general law from a set of specific cases.

 

I think I could be described as socially conservative. I approve of the idea of monogamy, marriage, nuclear families - I suppose it generally follows the Christian model. I have questioned these things over time, and I was less socially conservative ten years ago.

 

I suppose I've used inductive reasoning to choose some of my value structure. I'm also influenced by deductive reasoning (science), but I think science is very limited at least in the short term.

 

So I have this concern that my basic values are skewed because I'm using faulty reasoning. But doesn't everyone use some degree of inductive reasoning? The world is complex and we can only approximate the right course of action. Right?

[ofd]

But doesn't everyone use some degree of inductive reasoning?

 

 

There is another mode of reasoning, abduction, which gives you a better perspective of reality. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abductive_reasoning

 

That and using basic Bayesian insights can lead you to a coherent rational worldview.

 

 

I approve of the idea of monogamy, marriage, nuclear families - I suppose it generally follows the Christian model.

 

Not necessarily. You can believe those things without reference to Christianity. NRX people refer to it as Gnon, nature or nature's god. Those institutions have proven to be be resilient and succesful over a long time. This also means they are likely to be around for some time.

[A4E]

I was wondering if it is a case of projection. That he is accusing you of using that method, because he is using it himself.

 

And so that you will retreat to go ponder if he is right.

 

Then the question is if he apply the same standards to himself as he does to others.

[violet]

I was wondering if it is a case of projection. That he is accusing you of using that method, because he is using it himself.

 

And so that you will retreat to go ponder if he is right.

 

Then the question is if he apply the same standards to himself as he does to others.

I wasn't actually debating with him about my own views. I tend to keep those to myself.

 

Projection seems possible with this person. He's the type that thinks he's right every time. He's very confident in his reasoning and considers people that disagree with his point of view to lack intelligence or to have this "inductive reasoning" bias.

 

I suppose I just think everyone has bias. Noone wants to believe that their worldview is wrong in some fundamental way because that's destabilizing. It's hard to think through everything completely. Impossible actually.