One of the hallmarks of intelligence is the ability to think critically. The goal of post-secondary education used to be to teach you how to think critically. How to research, debate, ponder. Faced with so much new information in unfamiliar arenas, this was a very important skill.
Every point of view will put forward a compelling argument and a set of “facts” to convince the listener of its validity. It all sounds good to the unquestioning mind. But are these facts taken out of context or from questionable sources? Are these facts even relevant to the argument being made? Is it logical? Is there research to back it up?
Being a good critical thinker means you have to be curious. Remember when we were small children how curious we were? We took nothing at face value and we loved the idea of multiple explanations for things. Sadly, most people have lost their natural curiosity as they have grown up.
In today’s Information Age where technology provides answers to any question, critical thinking is even more important. Today however, the information we receive is tailored to what we already want to believe. Your chosen news channel tells you only one side of the story, the side you want to hear. The internet algorithms send you only the information you already agree with.
Nowadays no one wants to hear both sides of the story. No one wants “just the facts” so that they can form their own opinion. People want their opinions formed for them by someone else. They want their ideas prepackaged and spoon fed to them. Why is that?
There is always some merit in both sides of any issue. It is never black or white. We have access to so much amazing information today that there is no excuse for not knowing both sides of an issue. Dust the cobwebs from your brain. Be curious!
Comments