We certainly do have a sweet tooth for conjecture, conclusions formed on the basis of flimsy or incomplete information. Finding nothing substantial to the contrary, I’m thinking conjecture is unique to humans. We, with our advanced cognitive skills, own it. It’s read, written and spoken daily. Probably not practiced by all of us, but I’d be willing to bet most of us conjecture is just another face of evil and reprehensible. “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” If a trio of monkeys can figure it out, why can’t we?

Whether purveyors of conjecture or junk “news” junkies, the credit for this lapse in decorum appears to belong to a common cognitive bias in our personalities we may not even be aware of. A steady diet of conjecture can lead to wrongful conclusions and faulty decisions. No, I don’t see conjecture in lower animals but far less complex motivations for their malicious intent. And, no, I’m not advocating for monkeys but for us to come down out of the trees.

“Conjecture reasoning” is an oxymoron: “conjecture” denoting........

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