Versión en español

Below I list what I think are some fallacies used to deceive oneself. They are similar to cognitive biases or argumentative fallacies but of greater importance and more difficult to prove. Probably they have an evolutionary component and anthropic as well.

Life and death:

– I’ve always existed.

– I will never die.

– Not existing would be horrible, terrible. It’s the worst thing that can happen to me.

About valuable things:

– Life, in general, is worth it.

– My life is worth it and it will continue to be that way in the future.

– Each of us considers different things as valuable things. There is no problem of understanding, but different values.

Knowledge:

– I’m right, the others are wrong.

– We are close to knowing everything that can be known.

Rationality

– I am rational.

– The other people are rational.

– If I am right, while the others are wrong, and I present my arguments properly, the others will change their minds.

Luck:

– I’m gonna get lucky.

– The luck I’ve had, I deserve it.

Ethics and goodness:

– I am a good person. In fact, I am morally perfect (or almost), except for some small exceptions that are justified and understandable.

– I’m a better person than the others. The others are morally imperfect, and their mistakes are not justified like mine.

– Those who surround me daily would not kill me to rob me if they could go totally unpunished.

Intelligence and capacity:

– I am very intelligent.

– I am very capable.

Future:

– Things are going to be fine.

Pleasure:

– The pleasure is wonderful.

– Future pleasure will give me satisfaction.

Suffering:

– Suffering is not so bad.

– The past pain was not so bad.

Happiness and desire:

– If such a condition were fulfilled, I would be happy. If I’m not happy now it’s because I do not have such a thing.

Free will:

– I decide voluntarily.

Identity:

– I am different from everything else.