Why Logic Fails

Logic is a formal system of rational thought that is useful for problem solving, decision making and strategy formation. Despite its usefulness, logic has limits and can be wrong. In some areas, logic may not be as useful as other techniques such as heuristics or thought processes such as imagination. The following are common failures and limitations of logic.

Motivated Reasoning

Using logic to justify what you want as opposed to using logic to determine a strategy.

Fallacies

Errors in logic known as fallacies.

Fallacy Fallacy

Assuming that a conclusion is wrong simply because someone has developed a illogical argument for it.

Ludic Fallacy

Logic based on game theory and probability theory that underestimates the complexity and unpredictability of the real world.

Cold Logic

Misuse of logic to handle situations that aren't purely logical such as art, culture and social interaction.

Illogical Success

A tendency for strategies that don't appear to be logical to be successful nonetheless in areas such as politics. In many pursuits and professions, a purely logical approach doesn't typically work.

Practical Approximations

Logic may miss practical approaches such as heuristics that are useful but not completely correct.

Partial Truth

Many systems of logic deal only with true and false. Such logic can't handle grey areas that are commonly understood by rational thought. Fuzzy logic can handle partial truths.

Divergent Thinking

Logic is most useful for processes of convergent thinking, or finding the correct answer to a problem. It isn't as useful for creating ideas that don't yet exist or novel solutions.