Cause And Effect As a Dangerous Logical Trap
How Do You Distinct Correlation From Causation?
Sales of Bud Light beer are falling (at the time of writing this). And it is safe to assume that the recent PR scandal the brand was involved in was the reason. So, we can see the cause and effect.
But this is not always the case.
Brains consume up to 25% of the whole body's energy. We spend more on thinking than on moving. So, since our organisms were formed in the times when everyday dinners and breakfasts were not guaranteed, we're naturally programmed to save energy.
And since the brain is the most energy-consuming part of our bodies, guess which functions fall victim to this energy-saving policy.
Post hoc ergo propter hoc
Your neighbor got promoted a couple of months ago, and today you discovered he bought a new Ferrari. Did he buy the car because of his promotion?
Your friends, a married couple, have had several strong quarrels recently. This morning your spouse told you they've got divorced. Were those arguments the reason why they split up?
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