So how do you distinguish between this sunk cost fallacy and persevering until you finish something difficult? Well, it helps to think about whether the experience will benefit you in the long run – in which case, it would be helpful to see it through.įor example, let's say you've done three years of a four year degree program at a college or university. Any of these current and relevant initiatives would suffer if you continued to work on your unsuccessful book project. Maybe you're trying to get a new job, or learn a new skill, or move to a new city. Instead, though, you should leave that project behind and focus on what's ahead. You might think you should finish the book because you're so close or because you've already spent so much time and energy on it. You've put months if not years of your life into writing this book.īut then perhaps your interests change, or you no longer wish to be an author. You spend hours and hours doing research, making an outline, and writing the first 10 chapters. Let's say that you've decided to write a book. The reason for this might seem counterintuitive, but think about it: rather than spend another minute of your precious time doing something that isn't going anywhere, it's better to switch gears ASAP (before you spend any more time) and start putting your energy into something productive. It states that it's actually better to abandon a project that's going nowhere (at any point) rather than waste any more time, energy, and resources trying to finish it for the sole purpose of finishing it. You were likely falling prey to the sunk cost fallacy. Have you ever finished a task (that you really didn't want to complete) simply because you'd put so much time and effort in already? You probably felt like you didn't want all that hard work to go to waste, or to be for nothing. The Sunk Cost Fallacy – Definition and Example In this article, we'll look at the most common informal fallacies so you can learn to identify them and avoid them. Instead, it's all about giving you the tools to identify these weak arguments so you don't make these mistakes in your reasoning. And keep in mind that we're not talking about the effectiveness or persuasiveness of your argument, here – after all, fallacious arguments can be very persuasive. In this article, we'll focus on these informal fallacies as they can be pretty common in everyday debate. In informal fallacies, there's a problem with what you're saying, and the information might be incorrect or misleading. You might be speaking the truth, but the logic breaks down because of the way you're putting your arguments together. In formal fallacies, there's a problem with how you structure your argument, and how you're making your points. There are two major types of logical fallacies, formal and informal. And you want to be able to spot these fallacies in other people's arguments (and your own) so you can call them out or fix your own strategy. What is a Logical Fallacy?Ī logical fallacy is an error in reasoning that makes your argument less effective and convincing. When you're debating someone, you want to use all the resources at your disposal to convince them you're right.Īnd that's great – but you should be careful that you don't end up using a logical fallacy to help you make your point.
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