Lil Book of Magic Hacks | Hack #8

Fight Against Fallacy

Patterns can be true or false. Humans are hard-codes to find and recognize patterns (even when they aren’t there). Patterns aren’t the problem, the real problem is that we often have a hard time telling the difference between when we’re drawing a real inference of a fictitious one. Analysis through correlation is a gateway to believing unfounded theories. Next time you realize you’re recognizing a pattern, think twice: be sure you’re drawing the right conclusion.

— J.R.