Cognitive Scaffold

Preparing your thinking workspace

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MENTAL MODEL · M2306

Grice's Razor

Grice's Razor
StructureHigh supportLogic
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

In communication, prioritize responding to the speaker's intention rather than nitpicking their literal errors. (Address what the speaker meant, not what they said.) -

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

A filter for argumentative nitpickers. It is a principle for improving communication efficiency. Low-level communicators fixate on the other person's slips of the tongue or inappropriate wording (straw man attacks); high-level communicators automatically correct the other's expression and directly address the core logic. If you want to reach consensus, help the other person refine their viewpoint rather than exploit their verbal mistakes.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

When interpreting conversational implicature, choose the interpretation that least violates the cooperative principle, i.e., the principle of parsimony: 'Do not assume the other party is uncooperative unless necessary.'

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

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    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooperative_principleZH · Explicit
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