Abstract

This chapter focuses on one of the common fallacies in Western philosophy, 'mind projection'. This fallacy occurs when we reason that the world has features that we (wrongly) project on to it or, using Gertrude Stein's whimsical language, when we do not carefully and humbly observe the world around us. Physicist E.T. Jaynes claimed to identify this fallacy as part of his critique of quantum theory of probability in his work “Clearing up Mysteries – The Original Goal”. He claimed that probability theory led to fallacious thinking about the properties of nature. Probability is not an inherent characteristic of anything in nature, but it actually indicates a deficit of facts or knowledge. One promising way to avoid this fallacy is through what is frequently referred to today as epistemic humility.