Cognitive Scaffold

Preparing your thinking workspace

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MENTAL MODEL · M3727

Faustian Bargain

Faustian Bargain
CultureHigh supportPhilosophy
Included
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

Selling one's soul to the devil for immediate power, knowledge, or wealth. Refers to transactions that offer huge short-term gains but carry unbearable (and often irreversible) long-term costs.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Soul pricing. Beware of shortcuts that seem too good to be true (e.g., doping, data fraud, overdrawing credit). The devil always puts your soul in the appendix of the contract. Always see what the ultimate price is.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Derived from Goethe's 'Faust': exchanging the soul/long-term cost for immediate knowledge, power, or gratification. A metaphor for a transaction or compromise where short-term gains are large but long-term costs are underestimated and outweigh the benefits.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

  • link
    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deal_with_the_DevilZH · Explicit
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