Intelligence alone cannot protect us from bad arguments.

The Sophists, Plato, and Aristotle transformed the study of persuasion and truth.

We embrace bad arguments because they satisfy psychological needs, not logical ones.

History is full of brilliant people who believed ridiculous things. Isaac Newton devoted years to searching for the philosopher’s stone. Thomas Edison promoted radioactive products as health remedies. Steve Jobs believed that his vegan diet made regular bathing unnecessary.

The problem isn’t that intelligent people cannot think. It’s that they’re human.

We like to imagine that reason is an impartial judge, carefully weighing evidence before arriving at a verdict. More often, it behaves like a defence lawyer, marshalling arguments for conclusions we reached for entirely different reasons.

Our hopes, fears, loyalties, ambitions, and prejudices all shape the way we reason. We are naturally drawn to arguments that flatter our opinions, excuse our behaviour, or confirm our suspicions. And the more intelligent we........

© Psychology Today