Hanlon’s Razor: How to Avoid Common Missteps in Judgment
On becoming more restrained, and thinking more clearly in the face of adversity
I was at the local doughnut shop the other day. At the early hour I was there, it is a favorite hangout for retirees. They get a doughnut, some coffee, and they sit at one of the dozen tables in the place, discussing everything from the latest gossip to national politics. From time to time, if I have to wait long enough to be served, I’ll hear some real gems.
On this occasion, I got to hear something that gave me pause (and I’m paraphrasing):
Of course they’re saying there’s no evidence of wiretapping. All of those reporters are being paid off by Obama people!
Pushing aside the particular absurdities of the claim, it commits an error that I have found very pervasive lately — both in political discussion, and in general: people are constantly assuming organized, intentional action, when ignorance, disorganization, or confusion are a simpler and more likely explanation. Thinking that way is a violation of a sound principle of better thinking: Hanlon’s Razor.
What Hanlon’s Razor Is
Simply put, Hanlon’s Razor is this:
Never attribute to malice that…
