There& #39;s prescriptive thinking and descriptive thinking.

Prescriptive is about what& #39;s "right" and "wrong," while descriptive is about what& #39;s true, what actually happens, actual chains of cause and effect.

Prescriptive is about what should be, descriptive is about what is.

Descriptive thinking says "if you leave money on the ground, you won& #39;t ever see it again."

Prescriptive says "if you find money on the ground you should bring it to the police so they can return it to the rightful owner."

Descriptive says "It& #39;s wrong to steal. People shouldn& #39;t steal."

Prescriptive says "If you leave the door unlocked, don& #39;t be surprised if someone stole your valuables."

The funny thing is that you can derive a prescription from a description, I.e. "you shouldn& #39;t leave the door unlocked."

It doesn& #39;t mean it& #39;s "wrong" to leave the door unlocked. It doesn& #39;t mean you& #39;re to "blame" if theft happens. But, yeah, you shouldn& #39;t leave the door unlocked.