An Instinct or a Learned Behavior?

Those of us of a certain age who have sat through a heck of a lot of school will tell you that at certain times when we were in college or younger, we were encouraged to “think critically!” But what does that mean? What does it mean to be a critical thinker?

As human beings, we come equipped with certain instincts for our survival, some of which make sense, and some of which people simply assume are evolutionary qualities. The human condition brings us into the world equipped with the desires to be creative, to produce, and to be social. What it does not give us is critical thinking.

Critical thinking is a skill instilled through education, in which the thinker questions the world around them. The thinker is taught not to take for granted what they experience. The thinker instead contemplates truth, reasoning, logic, and other factors to determine the validity of what they observe. For some of us who have practiced for years, this is a quick and easy skill. But for those who are just getting started, it can seem laborious and frustrating.

The Sigh of the Vulcan

This is precisely why this version of Tuvok, a Vulcan so used to the ways of logic, grows frustrated, shrugs his shoulders, and suggests just going with what aligns with his presupposed beliefs rather than changing his mind. Sometimes questioning and listening can make a person frustrated and unhappy. More on that in a bit.

Critical thinking, while essential to the practice of philosophy (for instance, in determining the soundness of arguments, detecting fallacies, etc.), is a skill that we can all use and embrace in our everyday lives, even when it is easier to just let your long-held beliefs sustain you.

And that is another bonus of critical thinking that this meme details: in considering the world around you critically, you find that you can change your views with new information, compared with your former experiences. A good critical thinker is open to changes in their worldview or ways to inform new, different opinions.

It’s why we read, for instance. Sometimes, especially when we are younger, we come equipped with the opinions held by those who raised us, or other people we respect. There is nothing wrong with this, and to an extent you should often pick up opinions from your parents (like, don’t drink alcohol and drive or don’t touch the hot stove) without questioning it too much.

But as we grow older and more experienced, we should start to consider if things that we learned as children (the wait one hour after eating to get into the pool rule, for instance) reflects the observable world around us, and reflects our reasoned perceptions.

It can be upsetting to learn, for instance, that a long held belief is just not valid or true. When I was told that Santa was not a real person (much later on than a lot of kids my age), I was affronted! I knew Santa was real because someone ate those cookies! Soon, however, I grew comfortable with the fact that my mom was eating the cookies and putting out the gifts.

The Practicality of Critical Thinking

But what can critical thinking do for me? you scoff, crossing your arms and stomping your foot. A lot, actually.

In a world where AI is getting more and more convincing, and it’s easier for technology to manipulate the truth, it’s very important to understand what is fact and what is fiction. Disinformation and misinformation are widely spread on social media. You can be a person who helps stop this spread.

Considering if something is “too good to be true” is basic critical thinking. Offers for jobs that sound amazing. Supposed prizes that you will receive for giving away information. Deliciously priced apartments that don’t exist. The list of scams alone goes on and on. Without this skill you’d be scammed over and over. (And trust me, it’s hard enough as a good critical thinker!)

And to think critically is to suggest that things do not have to be the way that they are. As a result, it can help save the world. You find you won’t always go along with what your peers believe is cool. And you won’t always go along with the community or political climate around you. But you can be a voice of dissent.

Dissent is so important in the world, as is the ability to understand the difference between what is and what should be. As philosophers, we deal in terms of what we should be doing in a moral sense, or the way the world around us should be so that we can be good actors in it.

The way things are is not always compatible with how they should be, but we shouldn’t let that stop us from wanting them to be otherwise than what they are and wanting to make things better.

Ignorance Is Bliss

It’s often said that ignorance is bliss, and your Memesletter writer has observed that this may be the case, as she knows some very uninformed people who are also incredibly happy. And if you think about it, it makes sense.

If you don’t focus much of your time considering why things are the way they are and if this is the way things shouldbe, then you probably have a lot more angst space cleared up in your head. Living a simple life without considering the oppressiveness of your government, for instance, will likely lead to less anxiety and depression.

But the question becomes, do we feed the desire for complacency or the need for a better world?

And that is a difficult question to answer, especially at this moment in time, when the world is fraught with so many anxiety inducing issues, from the comments section to your national government. Anxiety in the US , at least, is more common and more intense than ever. It’s a stressful time to be alive.

But, as difficult and scary as it may be, we can’t let our own anxiety eat at us–and worse yet, turn to complacency and ignorance to soothe our anxiety and make us feel better temporarily.

This does not mean that we should obsess over news and social media issues. Taking time to unplug and decompress is a good thing and will help you in the long run. But it’s still important to keep learning and thinking critically.

Where would we be without our capacity for curiosity?