ABSTRACT
Reasoning can be hard work. It is much easier to “play hunches” and to “follow one’s intuitions” than to think through the consequences of various actions we might be considering. It is easier to assume that people who disagree with us on controversial issues are wrong, than to attempt to see things from their points of view. Slogans or maxims are powerful because they express ideas in graphic and memorable terms. They can be dangerous, however, inasmuch as they usually have a limited domain of applicability. It is especially important to be willing to reconsider the plausibility of old beliefs in the light of new information. Remember that no plausible arguments are ever really complete. Useful tools for reasoning include diagrams, truth tables, symbolic logic, decision trees, and so on. None of them will guarantee effective reasoning, but they can be very helpful nevertheless.
