Definitionv1DF-126
Illusion of understanding
the epistemic state where individuals mistake familiarity and fluency for genuine comprehension, feeling informed while structurally ignorant of the content they have consumed
Why This Is a Definition
This definition precisely establishes the semantic boundary of 'illusion of understanding' by identifying its genus (epistemic state) and differentia (mistaking familiarity/fluency for comprehension while being structurally ignorant). It distinguishes this from mere confusion or misinformation by focusing on the specific cognitive mechanism where fluency signals are misinterpreted as understanding. The definition is consistent with the lesson's emphasis on processing fluency, mere exposure effects, and the distinction between recognition and production.