When You Eliminate the Impossible
I notice you're reading this lesson. You're probably sitting. Your eyes are moving left to right. You've already made three assumptions about this room that you haven't verified. What are they?
When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. This is the foundation of deduction. The key skill: separating OBSERVATION (what I can verify) from ASSUMPTION (what I believe to be true). Most people confuse the two. A detective never does.
Examples
The Case of the Missing Keys
A man says his keys were stolen. But I observe: no signs of forced entry, keys were last seen on his desk, the window is locked from inside. The impossible: someone picked the lock, took ONLY keys, and left. Whatever remains: he misplaced them.
Practice
For the next hour, keep a mental log: every time you catch yourself assuming something you haven't verified. Write down 3 examples.