One of the biggest responsibilities we have as individuals is to think as critically and independently as possible.
This is particularly important during times of crisis, when fear or uncertainty make us susceptible to manipulation.
Too often we forget that information isn’t always the same thing as truth.
Critical thinking helps us to gain confidence in our ability to sift truth from error and fact from fiction.
It helps us break the tendency to simply conform to whatever the crowd is doing.
For this reason, critical thinking skills are rarely taught in our institutions of learning.
These skills are what enable us to prove which parts of a particular argument are wrong and may be safely disregarded.
In developing our ability to think critically, we should exercise a bit of caution and humility.
Otherwise we risk becoming what Paul Rosenberg refers to as the unbalanced critic who can only tear down anyone who expresses himself imperfectly.
We need to keep the big picture in mind.
As Rosenberg puts it:
“The critical thinker, then, should also be a benevolent thinker. A knife can skillfully wielded by either a chef or by a killer, so let’s all be chefs.”
When someone is browbeating you to agree with them and applying emotional pressure, the ability to think critically is essential.
It takes serious effort to develop critical thinking skills and you won’t always be right.
But you won’t be wrong as often either.
And you won’t need to be told what to think.
The Case for Critical Thinking