Defending Logical Fallacies in the World of Excessive Information

During her 1974 address to the graduating class of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Ayn Rand delved deep into the need for philosophy in human life. She starts with an analogy where she assumes an astronaut disappeared on another planet. The issues he faced in new places are similar to every person on this planet. Humans use abstract ideas and even rely on superstitions and God to address the complex problems in their lives. We won’t say we don’t know about philosophy. Humans inevitably use philosophical terminologies and perspectives to comprehend the world around us. There are various approaches to tackling complex problems in our lives. Religion is one dominant way to reach reality. Man also uses reason, science, evaluation, and subjective reality to address their life questions. In this complex world, where the flow of knowledge is quick, it is difficult to choose reliable ideas to live a better life. There are many philosophies out there, and to choose a philosophy that is compatible with our life and give us answers to our questions is an enigma.

Since the early Greeks, humans have used different ways to see the world around them. In their pursuit of knowledge about the universe, they have given us many lenses to understand ourselves and our lives. The dilemma is that we have limited life in this world. We can’t grasp everything in such a short time. How can someone find answers to his/her questions about the universe and life? Peter Boghossian says we can use a ‘Scales” method to define ideas. For example, we can gauge the efficacy of an idea on a scale of 1-10. Before using this scale method, we should find wisdom and a philosophy to live our lives. Picking a philosophy as our lens to understand the world around us is the first and most complex endeavor in one’s life.  

The detective approach, as mentioned by Ayn Rand in her speech titled “Philosophy Who Needs It” is a better and more critical way to seek answers to our philosophical questions. It allows one to investigate arguments and philosophies. To employ a detective approach, one must be proficient and meticulous in analyzing arguments and ideas. It’s like analyzing every aspect of a philosophy and ideas critically and rationally. This approach solidifies one's beliefs and provides the power to evaluate other philosophies and ideas.

Clearly defining the terms of discussion is another way to gain meaningful knowledge and productive discussion. These allow people to be on the same page. Secondly, avoidance of assumptions is necessary. Rather than assuming one’s mind and thinking, it is better to ask questions. Finally, we need to be empirical in our discussion. It means we need to present evidence and examples.   

In a nutshell, the contemporary is a diverse place. People have become complex. Our world is ruled by difficult ideas, cultures, and philosophies. In such a chaotic world, where everyone thinks their philosophy is the ultimate truth, we must be careful while judging others based on our philosophies. We need to find common ground where we discuss ideas and philosophies. We need to train ourselves to such a level that we can reject logical fallacies and have a rational mind to investigate truths.