Cognitive Biases: What They Are, Why They're Important

As critical thinkers, it's important to understand how we OUGHT to reason. This is what we learn when we study logic, argumentation and other normative theories of reasoning. But it's equally important to understand how we IN FACT reason, how our minds ACTUALLY work.

Every critical thinker should be familiar with the concept of a "cognitive bias". In this episode of The Critical Thinker podcast I give an overview of what cognitive biases are and why they're important. In the next episode I'll look at some examples of cognitive biases in action.

[Hello-vuvz]

I have to say that I love being able to watch videos like this that use examples. I started an informal logic class for my bachelor's degree and it helps me to understand things so much easier! hello from Houston.

[EvilDandy]

I have read through and referenced that Wiki list many times in the past. The number of cognitive biases is overwhelming indeed.

[tnc]

"Logic should be taught at school level just like maths and other subjects."

What he means is that things such has critical thinking should be taught alongside the core subjects that are taught today. He's not literally saying the courses should be the same. The words "Just like" can be used in different contexts.

[alextupou]

I have seen about half a dozen of your video clips and have enjoyed the content. especially this one...I hope that developing a critical thinking mind will help each of us willing to challenge the onslaught of persuasion in the 'marketing' world of life. keep up the good work.

[Neueregel]

The 'List of cognitive biases' is one the best articles in Wikipedia. Thanks for posting !! Long live critical thinking.

[shinomri]

Wow.... I would love it if you made more examples such as the one at the end. It was really eye opening for me.

[wertlad]

Great content, thank you so much for uploading some of the only stuff worth watching out there on YouTube.

[haitiandoll]

I love your channel, you are the reason I am passing this philosophy reasoning class

[bheegicigarette]

Thank you for an amazing video. Your presentation was very clear and to the point. Gets the point across really well. Keep up the good work :)

[anatolvenedictov]

Anchoring:
The formula is as follows:
1. Gain trust
2. Lie (incl. to mislead)
3. Get the result

I wonder how this would have worked without step 1....

[andthereisntone]

Kevin deLaplante  Good day, good sir. Would you be able to recommend a particularly lucid and fairly comprehensive book on the cognitive biases for the layman? Thanks.

[GSonkavade]

Hey Kevin, I had a question "Have you got any physical product which could let people learn about cognitive biases without referring on internet again and again?" Hope you reply soon. Thank you.

[Theophage]

Another absolutely brilliant video. Why aren't more people subscribed to you?

[stroke]

7:15 .... the questions asked require an answer of less than or more than, not a number.?!?
Given a person who has no idea about the answer, the probability of the answer being somewhere between 11 and 100 percent is far greater than being between 65 percent and 100. That is what would lead to more answers of "greater than" in the first example, and less than on the second.
Where are you asking for a specific percentage except in the prepositional question? For example "what percentage of clovers have 4 leaves? Is it higher or lower than 30 percent?" One need only expect an answer of "higher than" or "lower than".
Any research could only report the percentage of less than or greater than answers.

Your roulette example...again...!! The question is asked what percentage? Then is it less than or greater than?" at which point the first question becomes just an introduction. A bit of framing. At that point, since the only answer required is less than or greater than, a disposition towards probability kicks in. If I am seeing 80 I will guess less than. If 20, I will guess more than. 50? who knows, then its a coin toss.

[SnarkyCommentary]

Great podcast, I really enjoyed the last example. Keep up the awesome work!

[MynamesRAnonymous]

5.)His argument : I am by default a non-christian because I enjoy listening to Metal music.(perhaps more a fallacy)
6.)Believes he contributes the most and deserve the most credit in film group-studies and tasks.
7.)Thinks the country he is moving to is much better than the one he resides in at the moment, even when he never seen them (both)...etc etc
I think a possible correlation between his egocentrism, under-bragging tactics, dis-ability to do self-research, perhaps encourages such thinking?

[Forkroute]

Beautiful. I'm using this a lot. Thank you.

[locanix]

Thanks for the video, looking forward to future videos. Greetings from Finland!

[PhilosophyFreak]

Thanks for the comments guys. I'm working on new ones ...

[michaelcalixtro]

Great video.. I really like your explanations.