I am studying a logic text book and there is the following example which I don't get:
Because I had decided, right off, that I liked John, what I heard in his answer was toughness and confidence.
Had I decided early on that I didn't like him, I would have heard in his reply arrogance and bluster.
The first impression becomes a self-fullfilling prophecy:we hear what we expect to hear
According to the book the first 2 propositions serves as premices for the 3rd which is the conclusion: i.e. we hear what we expect.
From my point of view though, the 3rd proposition could be a premise to conclude either of the first 2 propositions.
I.e. we hear what we expect to hear and therefore I heard in John's answer confidence since I liked him.
Am I wrong on this? Can't the 3rd proposition be a premise?
Why not? I don't follow