A convenient account can be true. Examine its grounds, capacity to change, and consequences for choice; neither relief nor pain proves correctness.
Questions explored
How can I tell whether I am deceiving myself?
One unpleasant or convenient feeling does not establish it. Separate fact, cause, and conclusion; compare an alternative and a revision criterion.
Does a good intention remove responsibility?
Intention does not cancel consequences. Examine earlier information, available possibilities, and work possible now.
Can another's disagreement be declared a defence?
Disagreement does not prove defence. Observation differs from a motive hypothesis; the speaker can clarify an event.
What can I do with an uncertain cause?
Retain several accounts and choose a manageable action useful under more than one explanation.
Key distinctions
An explanation's convenience alone does not prove it false. (United Wisdom editorial reasoning; illustrative scenes)
Kunda distinguishes accuracy goals from directional goals seeking a desired conclusion. (Kunda1990,pp.480–483; limited review distinction)
Intention and consequence need separate consideration. (United Wisdom editorial reasoning; illustrative scenes)
An invulnerable account calls for examining rules for handling facts. (United Wisdom editorial reasoning; illustrative scenes)
Editorial question: which decision needs discussion? (Original editorial question; comparison with Analects XVI.1 is bounded in the master)
Accusing another of self-deception also needs examination. (United Wisdom editorial reasoning; illustrative scenes)
Reconsidering an account is useful when it changes a particular available choice. (United Wisdom editorial reasoning; illustrative scenes)
Limits of interpretation
- Do not infer a diagnosis or hidden motive from this article.
- Do not treat another's disagreement as proof of self-deception.
- The scientific review, philosophy, and Christian position have different grounds.
- Do not extend Gutenberg US-only rights to every jurisdiction; preserve UNKNOWN.
- Practice is voluntary, without treatment or guaranteed outcomes.
Sources
- The Case for Motivated Reasoning — Ziva Kunda
pp.480–483: introduction, accuracy/directional goals, limits of accuracy motivation. Not whole review or its cited experiments.
Source use: UNKNOWN
A scientific review and proposed mechanism; a personal motive cannot be inferred from a speaker's confidence.
- Novum Organum — Francis Bacon
BookI,aphorisms46–49; selected text only.
Source use: PUBLIC_DOMAIN_US
A philosophical argument about knowing nature; not a contemporary experiment on self-deception.
- Confessions,BookX — Augustine
X.3–5; selected fragments X.14,X.31; page edition note. Not full book.
Source use: UNKNOWN
A Christian position on self-knowledge and grace; not a clinical model or a belief obligatory for the reader.
- The Analects — Confucius / transmitted Analects
XVI.1,political conversation on proposed attack and concealed desire; selected passage.
Source use: PUBLIC_DOMAIN_US
A particular political-ethical context; does not establish a contemporary speaker's motive.