What We Know that Ain’t So

Abstract

Human reasoning usually involves two different kinds of cognitive processes: looking backward to understand the past, and looking forward to predict the future. While the two modes of thinking are interdependent, they are conceptually different.²¹ For example, while one may be able to explain how the eclipse of the sun occurs, most of us would not be able to predict when the next eclipse will occur. On the other hand, drivers may accurately predict the rattling sound that occurs every time they depress their car's gas pedal, but may not be able to explain it.