Critical Thinking
I have always wanted to write about this concept or lack thereof in our society nowadays. We are - thanks to the rapid development of technology and the globalising nature of the internet more than ever - surrounded by and access information and it is becoming increasingly harder to distinguish between what is true and what is false.
Information has always been a key feature of our lives, but the sources have changed over the centuries. They are also different depending on which stage of our lives we are. Newborns and toddlers primarily rely on their impressions of the close surroundings or on their caregiver as a source, but growing up means that we can and should form our views and develop our validation methods.
Before the development of speech, information primarily was gathered by our senses. We believed things to be true that we heard, saw or touched. Life in certain ways was simpler; we needed shelter from nature, we needed food and we interacted with a small number of people whom we more or less know. Confirming or disproving shared information was relatively simple. As society grew and its members separated geographically, written communication was key to sharing increasingly more complex ideas, but at the same time validating information became harder. In the 21st century, the widespread use of search engines and social media manipulated by algorithms that are controlled by global corporations with their agenda, smartphones, AI and deep fakes make it challenging to separate facts from misinformation. We find ourselves overwhelmed and human nature dictates that we frequently choose the least resistance when accepting knowledge. We are often influenced by our biases too.
First, let’s see a couple of definitions of critical thinking:
“The objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment.”
“The ability to analyse facts impartially and reach a logical conclusion is critical thinking. It is a vital skill for making well-informed decisions.”
The keywords here are ‘objective’, ‘impartial’, ‘logical’, and ’analysis’. Objectivity means that one is not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts, whilst impartiality refers to the ability to judge or consider something fairly without allowing one’s interests to influence decision-making. Someone who is characterized by or capable of clear, sound reasoning is considered logical. Finally, analysis is the detailed examination of the elements or structure of something. These might seem simple processes and one could easily say that following them should not be difficult, but in reality, we all have our narratives, feelings, views and biases that poke their head through the cracks of our conscience derailing our decision-making processes.
Unreasonable fear is a great example of how emotions and feelings can distort our views. Flying is one of the safest methods of transportation available and still according to some statistics between 40 and 60 per cent of people might be suffering from fear and anxiety when flying. This number is significantly less when driving a car is considered despite the fact that car crashes and related loss of life are higher. Refusing vaccination due to fear of autism is another illustration of an emotion-driven decision. Regardless of the countless evidence on why vaccination works and the fact that the autism claim has been debunked since its publication in 1998, many people around the globe are against this medical procedure that could and does literally save lives. In these scenarios, the two common elements are strong emotions and lack of control. When we are driving a car, we feel that we are in control and we feel that we understand how driving works, but when we are passengers of an aircraft, the control is in the hands of the pilot and comprehending how that much steel can stay airborne is impossible for most of us. Similarly, when a car crash happens, it is unlikely that the world will know about it, there will be no smoking wreckage and no distraught members of the families will be shown on the global news, but surely it will happen when a plane disaster occurs producing a strong emotional response in all of us. The diagnosis of autism for a parent could be devastating, thus anything that - however falsely - promises any kind of control over this will be accepted and rarely questioned.
I am not saying that emotions and feelings are unnecessary or bad, but when it comes to making important decisions about our health, our future, our community or our society, only facts, evidence and logic should influence our choices and critical thinking can help us in this approach.
Improving critical thinking skills requires practice and a proactive approach. Begin by actively seeking out diverse sources of information and differing opinions to broaden your perspective. Question assumptions and biases, both your own and those of others, and strive to be open-minded. Engage in discussions and debates that challenge your ideas and encourage you to defend your positions with evidence and logic. Reflect on your thought processes and decisions regularly, and seek feedback from peers or mentors to refine your skills. Over time, these efforts will help sharpen your critical thinking and decision-making abilities in various aspects of life.
