Cognitive Biases
Recent Tidbits:
Stories, Quotes, and FAQs.
The wisdom builder tidbits that feed the columns, articles, and trainer.
Four Mind Traps
Featured Story
Four Mind Traps
We all live with cognitive biases, the mental shortcuts that help simplify a complex world. They are useful, but they also distort judgment. They are not moral failures, but they do require correction. To take control of your biases, start by owning them. Notice the pattern. Name it. Slow down. Then use structured reasoning and evidence to recalibrate your confidence. This helps reduce inflated certainty, emotional reaction, and tribal thinking.
Featured QUOTE
Featured FAQ
Critical Thinking
FAQ
What is the preservation bias?
Preservation Bias
Preservation shapes perception: What we know about the past is shaped by what survives. From fossils to ancient artifacts, the story of history is incomplete, skewed toward what was preserved. Understanding preservation bias reminds us to question the gaps and look beyond the surface. In daily life, remember that the evidence you can see may not be all the evidence there is.
Updated Tidbits
Critical Thinking
FAQ
Are there more Christians or Muslims in the world today?
Hasty Generalization
08 Aug 2026
(Updated 1 week ago)
Critical Thinking
FAQ
What’s the difference between intentional change and wishful thinking?
Worldview
07 Jul 2026
(Updated 2 months ago)
Critical Thinking
FAQ
How do we know bloodletting doesn’t work?
- Coincidence is not causality.
- Look for evidence of a direct causal relationship.
False Cause Fallacy
07 Jul 2026
(Updated 2 months ago)
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Four Mind Traps
Common Cognitive Errors
Recognizing where thinking goes wrong.
The Four Mind Traps identify recurring patterns of flawed reasoning. These traps—often subtle and emotionally persuasive—distort evidence, oversimplify complexity, and protect belief at the expense of truth. Recognizing them is the first step toward intellectual maturity.
Deep-Dive Articles
Appeal to Authority Logical Fallacy
Michael Alan Prestwood
February 24, 2019
An appeal to authority treats who said something as evidence. It puts who over why and source over evidence.
Logical Fallacies: The Failure of Argument
Michael Alan Prestwood
December 7, 2018
Logical fallacies are not random mistakes: they follow recognizable strategies that derail reasoning.
Updated Articles
TST COLUMN
01 Dec 2028
THINK WELL
Paper
4 Mind Traps: Fallacies, Biases, Heuristics, and Stereotypes
Cognitive Obstacles
Fri 12 May 2023
(3 years ago)
Updated 2 months ago.
TST COLUMN
01 Jan 2029
THINK WELL
Article
Logical Fallacies: The Failure of Argument
Critical Thinking
Fri 7 Dec 2018
(8 years ago)
Updated 2 months ago.
TST COLUMN
11 Feb 2026
THINK WELL
Article
Appeal to Authority Logical Fallacy
Authority
Sun 24 Feb 2019
(7 years ago)
Updated 2 months ago.
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