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NT! For those that have been around me for more than two seconds, you've probably seen me mention using critical thinking when seeing news reports, or someone's tweets (or FB posts for those still active there).
Perhaps some of you have come to the conclusion that I'm trying to come across as some kind of "snooty intellectual" when I mention using critical thinking, but you'd be wrong. I'm definitely *not* an "intellectual" person, snooty or otherwise.
I'm just an average guy, really. I don't have a "formal" education from a college or university, but I do have a strong sense of curiosity that drives me to look at new things, to learn new things ... and, I've been around the block a time or two ...
So I've seen, heard, and read things, experienced things in my life that have challenged me to really *think* about things in general, about life, and to do some "self examination" regarding why I think certain ways, and to start using critical thinking.
I'm just *now* beginning to get an understanding of what that means, and am still working on it, tbh. So, what do I mean by the term "critical thinking"? This is *my* understanding, not based on any "research" I've done, or studies by others.
Critical thinking, to me, is being able to set aside your own biases, to look at something in as objective manner as possible, to see the truth, or fallacy, of something in *spite* of your own biases, and to come to a rational understanding of ...
The topic at hand. Let me tell you, this is far easier said than done. Far easier! We each have our own biases that "color" our thoughts and opinions on whatever (such as pineapple on pizza, for example), and for most of us, it's ...
Pretty difficult to let go of those biases, to look at something from a different perspective, to see that maybe those preconceived notions we've held may not be, in fact, true or accurate, which then forces us into being uncomfortable ...
And to digging in our mental heels, resisting change to those preconceived notions. Without trying to sound boastful here, I'm one of those folks that can look at something from another point of view, and weigh that other view ...
Against my own. Sometimes I reject the other point of view as I find that it's "wrong" or misguided, and sometimes ... sometimes I incorporate the other point of view into my own, altering how I look at something.
Traditionally that's been called learning and maturing, or gaining wisdom. Nowadays it's been called "evolving", a term I don't particularly care for, but that's a discussion for another day perhaps.
Anyway, as I said earlier, I'm still in the process of gaining a real understanding of what it is to use critical thinking. Sometimes I'm successful, other times I'm not. But that's the process of learning, maturing, and gaining wisdom isn't it?
