The Weekly Audit

Motivated reasoning is the engine behind most hidden fallacies. You start with the conclusion you want, then build a case for it, and mistake that building for honest discovery. It feels like you reasoned your way there. You didn't; you arrived first and argued backward.

A short weekly review catches it. Pick one decision or argument you made and ask:

• Did I look for evidence against my view, or only for support?
• Did I take the opposing case at its strongest, or knock down its weakest version?
• What evidence could have changed my mind? If none, was I reasoning or just defending?