The Lost Art of Thinking #5: Beware of the Erroneous Assumption

From Steve Allen's Dumbth: The Lost Art of Thinking with 101 Ways to Reason Better & Improve Your Mind. (In the book, he goes into great detail and explanation about these rules. I just provide the bare minimum here. I urge everyone to acquire a copy of this book.)

Beware of the Erroneous Assumption

It is important to understand the distinction between an erroneous assumption and a stupid mistake. Simply being wrong by no means neccesarily involves an affront to sound reason. People may rely upon poor authority.

Many an erroneous assumption involves good reasoning rather than bad. There is some protection in remembering that we are entitled to make almost any reasonable assumption, but should resist making conclusions until evidence requires that we do so.