Imagine that you’re visiting a wooded area and as you’re walking along a trail you hear the sound of pounding hoofbeats. Rather than thinking of a horse, you envision a unicorn as an animal responsible for the loud noise. “Well, it’s either a unicorn or a zebra,” you conclude.
In this scenario, you’ve used a logical leap—drawing a conclusion altogether without supporting premises or establishing a conclusion without the support of logical and reasonable premises. To illustrate the latter definitional standard, consider the following syllogism:
Form (modus ponens) –
If p, then q; p; therefore, q.
Example –
Premise 1: If you hear hoofbeats in a forest, then sounds of a galloping animal empirically must relate to either a unicorn or a zebra.
Premise 2: You hear hoofbeats in a forest.
Conclusion: Therefore, sounds of a galloping animal empirically must relate to either a unicorn or a zebra.
Is your conclusion about hoofbeats considered rational? Perhaps it may help to first explain what constitutes a rational proposal. First, it’s worth knowing that logic is defined as an interrelation or sequence of facts or events when seen as inevitable or predictable.
Next, it’s important to know that reason is defined as a statement offered in explanation or justification. In order for a proposal to be considered rational, it empirically must remain in accord with both logic and reason.
With this knowledge, I return to the syllogistic example. Is your conclusion about hoofbeats considered rational? I argue that it isn’t, because (1) unicorns don’t actually exist and (2) although zebras exist, they aren’t endogenous to wooded areas.
Therefore, the aforementioned syllogism follows logical form though it isn’t reasonable. Thus, it’s irrational to conclude that hoofbeats heard when visiting a forest relate to either unicorns or zebras. A logical leap is made when bypassing a far more likely culprit in the form of a horse.
Expanding upon this topic, one source states, “If someone says that eating an apple in the morning made them do well on a test, they’ve made a logical leap. They’ve missed several steps that could explain their success on the test, like studying or getting a good night’s rest.”
Although eating an apple may play a role in test performance, it’s unlikely that consumption of fruit leads to this causal effect. I find that when practicing Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), it helps to understand how logic and reason apply to the matter of rational thinking.
As such, if a person irrationally believes that eating an apple causes improved test performance, together we can dispute this improbable assumption. Presuming that you don’t disagree with the premises I’ve outlined herein, regarding logical leaps, what comes to mind when you hear hoofbeats in a forest?
If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
ArthurHidden. (n.d.). Sportsman runs and jump into the sky [Image]. Freepik. Retrieved from https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/sportsman-runs-jump-into-sky_8907167.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=40&uuid=b76980e3-d645-4cd4-83fb-c4bc25161a28&query=leap
Hollings, D. (2024, November 15). Assumptions. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/assumptions
Hollings, D. (2024, October 27). Correlation does not imply causation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/correlation-does-not-imply-causation
Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer
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Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt
Hollings, D. (2023, October 17). Syllogism. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/syllogism
Philosophy Terms. (n.d.). Logical leap. Retrieved from https://philosophyterms.com/logical-leap/
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