Reason in Reverse: The Dangers of Rationalization

If we want to thrive, our ideas must be derived from the evidence around us, not formed in advance and justified after the fact.

Note: This article was slightly edited on 21 February to make the definition of rationalization more precise.

What's the most fundamental idea we must accept if we want to flourish in life? In a single sentence, I would say: “The only way to form correct ideas about anything is by looking at evidence and forming non-contradictory ideas based on it.” In s…