I learned about critical thinking during my short stint with university level study… sometimes though, I feel a little simple-minded in my consumption of ideas… for example when empathy joins hands with reason and I see both sides of an argument. This makes rather a muddle of my thoughts sometimes, and is frustrating as well when I can’t seem to align myself to a particular position.
It was interesting to hear this from a writer named Malcolm Gladwell (courtesy of brainpickings.org):
The notion that the only way you can critically engage with a person’s ideas is to take a shot at them, is to be openly critical — this is actually nonsense. Some of the most effective ways in which you deal with someone’s idea are to treat them completely at face value, and with an enormous amount of respect. That’s actually a faster way to engage with what they’re getting at than to lob grenades in their direction…
Imagine this approach in parliament! This is so very “zen” and I absolutely love this attitude. Malcolm goes on to say:
I feel I change my mind all the time. And I sort of feel that’s your responsibility as a person, as a human being — to constantly be updating your positions on as many things as possible. And if you don’t contradict yourself on a regular basis, then you’re not thinking.
I have to agree. The human mind and the thoughts it generates are organic things, which change and adapt over time. If thoughts and ideas do not continue to grow and develop we are just operating on auto-pilot.