The big idea
🧠
Shortcuts that misfire
A heuristic is a handy mental shortcut. A bias is that shortcut going wrong in a predictable direction.
Critical Thinking · Lesson 5
Cognitive Biases
beginner⏱ 14 min · 7 cards
Know the tilt
Common biases
Tap to reveal.
Spot it
Bias Simulator
You only read news sources that already agree with you, and feel more sure every day.
Read each scenario and name the bias — then see the counter-move.
Nuance
The honest truth
Maester Note
Knowing a bias doesn’t make you immune. Structure beats willpower.
Recap
Key takeaways
- ✓A heuristic is a useful shortcut; a bias is a heuristic that misfires predictably.
- ✓Confirmation, anchoring, availability, hindsight, overconfidence, and the fundamental attribution error are among the most common.
- ✓You usually cannot feel a bias directly.
- ✓Deliberate habits — seeking disconfirming evidence, recording predictions, stating confidence ranges — reduce their pull.
Quick check
What best describes critical thinking?
You did it
Nice work
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