mental gymnastics

English

WOTD – 2 May 2016

Pronunciation

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Noun

mental gymnastics pl (plural only)

  1. Difficult and complex logical thought processes, especially when performed effortlessly.
    To cope with these mental gymnastics we apply various ways of simplifying and reducing the information.
  2. (derogatory) Inventive, complex arguments used to justify what is otherwise unjustifiable.
    People often perform mental gymnastics in order to blame anyone but themselves.
    • 1949, Ludwig von Mises, Human Action, Mises Institute, page 65:
      But the end of science is to know reality. It is not mental gymnastics or a logical pastime.

Translations

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