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The problem isn't critical thinking skills. You can get together any 5 jokers and ask them 'what's the best way to build a backyard patio?', and they'll all sta

The problem isn't critical thinking skills. You can get together any 5 jokers and ask them 'what's the best way to build a backyard patio?', and they'll all start stroking their chins. But when thinking critically interferes with some sort of strong emotion, or pre-conceived belief system, then forget it. It doesn't matter how much education you have, if entertaining a particular problem causes your amygdala to start firing then your ability to think critically is out the window.

kakarot 9y ago
So the problem is indeed critical thinking skills. We must be able to critically identify devices and experiences that emotionally compromise us and lead to illogical action.
- Fricken 9y ago
  I've got social anxieties, I've critically identified the devices and experiences that lead to illogical action. From a distance I can be cold and calculating, once I get close to that situation, though, the only thing going through my mind is 'nope, nope, nope...'
  - kakarot 9y ago
    The idea is to recognize emotionally compromising situations and either remove yourself from them until you can think clearly, or to let someone you trust stand between your judgment and action. This is almost always achievable when there is will to do so, whereas emotionally regulating yourself while making decisions may be too difficult.
Spellman 9y ago
Ah the glorious cognitive biases we have. I believe you're referencing the Backfire Effect coupled with cognitive dissonance of your views being a part of your identity. Plus a generous helping of the overarching Confirmation Bias[1]. [1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias
- fivestar 9y ago
  Cognitive bias pretty much sums up the whole of the tech industry these days. Educated fools who never apparently strayed from the tech courses to ever consider philosophy, history, or even a foreign language. But they sure do know what's best for us.
cirgue 9y ago
> It doesn't matter how much education you have, if entertaining a particular problem causes your amygdala to start firing then your ability to think critically is out the window. Thinking critically is, by definition, the ability to not hold beliefs and opinions too deeply or too personally. This is a learnable skill, and is one facet of intellectual maturity.
- BearGoesChirp 9y ago
  In which case there are levels of it because there are issues that I can discuss to get an emotional response from almost anyone, especially if they think I'm arguing the issue for some reason other than to measure their emotional reaction.
eeZah7Ux 9y ago
> It doesn't matter how much education you have Critical thinking, on the contrary, can be learned.

kakarot 9y ago

So the problem is indeed critical thinking skills. We must be able to critically identify devices and experiences that emotionally compromise us and lead to illogical action.

Fricken 9y ago
I've got social anxieties, I've critically identified the devices and experiences that lead to illogical action. From a distance I can be cold and calculating, once I get close to that situation, though, the only thing going through my mind is 'nope, nope, nope...'
- kakarot 9y ago
  The idea is to recognize emotionally compromising situations and either remove yourself from them until you can think clearly, or to let someone you trust stand between your judgment and action. This is almost always achievable when there is will to do so, whereas emotionally regulating yourself while making decisions may be too difficult.

Spellman 9y ago

Ah the glorious cognitive biases we have. I believe you're referencing the Backfire Effect coupled with cognitive dissonance of your views being a part of your identity. Plus a generous helping of the overarching Confirmation Bias[1]. [1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias

fivestar 9y ago
Cognitive bias pretty much sums up the whole of the tech industry these days. Educated fools who never apparently strayed from the tech courses to ever consider philosophy, history, or even a foreign language. But they sure do know what's best for us.

cirgue 9y ago

> It doesn't matter how much education you have, if entertaining a particular problem causes your amygdala to start firing then your ability to think critically is out the window. Thinking critically is, by definition, the ability to not hold beliefs and opinions too deeply or too personally. This is a learnable skill, and is one facet of intellectual maturity.

BearGoesChirp 9y ago
In which case there are levels of it because there are issues that I can discuss to get an emotional response from almost anyone, especially if they think I'm arguing the issue for some reason other than to measure their emotional reaction.

eeZah7Ux 9y ago

> It doesn't matter how much education you have Critical thinking, on the contrary, can be learned.