Denying the Antecedent

August 29, 2022

The fallacy:

  • If A, then B

  • Not B, therefore not A

The reality:

  • If A, then B

  • Not B does NOT imply not A.

 My IQ piece: exams do not measure knowledge and abilities v. well; exams are extremely good at measuring the ability to take exams.

But avoid the denying the antecedent fallacy: being good at exams doesn't mean you aren't good at being Fat Tony.

Best test: are you rich at 35? https://t.co/wRWDVt2oAu— Nassim Nicholas Taleb (@nntaleb) August 18, 2022 

Let me elaborate on this, Fat Tony is a character created by Nassim to impersonate the characteristics of Street Smarts.

Tests don't measure skill very well. So getting As on tests doesn't measure street smarts.

But that does not mean it disqualifies it.

Don't confuse getting As with not being street smart.

References: