Simple Definitions of Logical Leap A logical leap is when someone jumps to a conclusion without showing all the steps needed to get there. Imagine you’re solving a jigsaw puzzle, but instead of finding all the pieces, you guess what the picture might be with only a few pieces. That guess is a logical leap because you’re missing the steps of finding and fitting all the pieces together. ... »
Definition Let’s say you’re at a park watching squirrels. You see one squirrel digging furiously and think, “All squirrels must love to dig!” However, not all squirrels may enjoy that activity as much as the one you saw. This is a prime example of a composition fallacy in generalizations. This fallacy occurs when we take what’s true for some members of a group and mis... »
Definition of Division Fallacy In Reasoning The division fallacy in reasoning is like a misleading shortcut in thinking. Imagine you’re part of a music class that won the ‘Best Choir’ award. The division fallacy would have someone believe that because the choir is the best, every single singer is the best singer. That’s not necessarily true; the choir might work great as a ... »
Definition of Relevance in Logical Arguments In the world of logical arguments, ‘relevance’ is a key to checking if the ideas you’re saying are really helpful for what you’re trying to prove or explain. Imagine relevance as a magnet. Just like a magnet only sticks to some metals, relevance means your point or information specifically sticks to the topic you’re dealing... »
Definition of Dichotomous Thinking Dichotomous thinking is a pattern where people look at things as having only two options, all good or all bad, with nothing in between. For example, when you eat a new food, instead of thinking it’s somewhere between delicious or terrible, you decide it’s either the best thing you’ve ever tasted or the absolute worst. Another way to put it is th... »
What is a False Dilemma? A false dilemma is when you’re told that you have only two choices, but that’s not true because there are other options available. Imagine being asked to choose between being a cat person or a dog person, but you actually love both. That’s what it’s like. You feel forced to pick a side, but your true answer might be, “I love both cats and dogs... »
What Does Avoiding Hasty Generalizations Mean? Avoiding hasty generalizations is like not judging a book by its cover. You see a little bit about something and then think it’s true for everything like that. Here’s a simple way to think about it: Imagine you see one person from a new school act mean. If you decide that everyone from that school is mean too, that’s a hasty generali... »
Definition of Modal Logic And Reasoning Imagine you are a detective, and you come upon a mystery that doesn’t have just plain ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers. That’s where modal logic comes in. It’s a specialized branch of logic used to talk about the ‘could be’s and ‘has to be’s—it’s like an advanced language for discussing what’... »
Definition Naturalistic views are like putting on a pair of glasses that help you see everything as connected to nature. It’s the idea that there are no magical forces or mystical beings causing things to happen. Instead, there are reasons we can find and understand through things like science and observation. For example, when someone gets sick, a naturalist would look for a virus or bacter... »
Definition of Nirvana When we talk about “Nirvana,” we’re diving into a powerful idea that comes from ancient beliefs. To put it in the simplest terms, imagine yourself in a place where pure joy and calm surround you; this beautiful place is free from any pain, sadness, or wishes. Nirvana is that incredible space. It’s not just feeling great for a moment—it’s a lastin... »