Dictionary

mental gymnastics en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (plural, plural-only) 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, plural, plural-only) Inventive, complex arguments used to justify what is otherwise unjustifiable.
   • But the end of science is to know reality. It is not mental gymnastics or a logical pastime. 1949, Ludwig von Mises, Human Action, Mises Institute, page 65:
   • People often perform mental gymnastics in order to blame anyone but themselves.

Deriveds

mental gymnast

Relateds

mentastics

Translations (1)

sv hjärngymnastik (difficult and complex logical thought processes)