# Logical thinking and Magical Thinking

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logical-thinking-and-magical-thinking/722999>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [June 20, 2015, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logical-thinking-and-magical-thinking/722999 "2015-06-20T06:07:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logical-thinking-and-magical-thinking/722999/81 "2015-06-23T14:04:43Z")

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I think in part this discussion hasn’t gone anywhere because it isn’t operating with respect to an actual definition of magical thinking. Here’s a Wikipedia definition:

> [@](#):
>
> Magical thinking is the attribution of causal relationships between actions and events which seemingly cannot be justified by reason and observation.

Under this definition, is it now possible to hinge psychological health, creativity, and human happiness on magical thinking?

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**Author:** ![Reno\_Nevada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Reno\_Nevada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logical-thinking-and-magical-thinking/722999/82 "2015-06-23T15:44:54Z")

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> [@butterfiles](#):
>
> But are there any situations/questions/problems out there that aren’t necessarily or easily solved with rational solutions?

Yes, of course. One example would be the death of your child.

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**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logical-thinking-and-magical-thinking/722999/83 "2015-06-23T17:30:59Z")

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That’s an incident, not a problem.

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**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logical-thinking-and-magical-thinking/722999/84 "2015-06-23T18:14:26Z")

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How do you solve a problem like Maria?

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