Critical Thinking

I sometimes wonder, have parts of society become so gullible that they do not become truthfully informed? It does seem like some people are somewhat deluded, that even the simplest of understanding is blinded by a lack of common sense, or maybe they never had sense at all. People are failing to even use the basics of critical thinking, to create a reasonable deduction to all the convoluted nonsense that they see or hear. Mainstream media and social media are preying on the vulnerability of those who lack critical thinking skills. Let's be realistic, if you can't think for yourself, how are you able to comprehend your present existence or even your prospects?

“To think incisively and to think for oneself is very difficult. We are prone to let our mental life become invaded by legions of half-truths, prejudices, and propaganda. At this point, I often wonder whether or not education is fulfilling its purpose. A great majority of the so-called educated people do not think logically and scientifically. Even the press, the classroom, the platform, and the pulpit in many instances do not give us objective and unbiased truths. To save man from the morass of propaganda, in my opinion, is one of the chief aims of education. Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal and the facts from the fiction. The function of education, therefore, is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

Critical thinking can enable you to formulate basic questions, verify truth from fiction, and help you postulate reason and understanding. An individual who is better informed is less likely to drown in the nonsense and more likely to rise above the rest. As I reminisce about my childhood, I realize that I asked many questions, which often got me into trouble and annoyed most of the adults around me. I did not understand then that I was creating the foundation and formulating my path to critical thinking. It has enabled me to become curious, inquisitive, and overall, a free thinker. An individual can be educated, and yet they are deluded by a pseudo-evolved knowledge that affects their critical thinking abilities.

 “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” - Aristotle:

 “When your mind is full of assumptions, conclusions, and beliefs, it has no penetration, it just repeats past impressions.”- Sadhguru:

 “Simple can be harder than complex: you have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.” - Steve Jobs:

As I mentioned earlier, I overcame many personal challenges, and this alone made me a much stronger person. Critical thinking enabled me to think more clearly, while still being empathetic and understanding while considering all cultural beliefs and values. The ability to think critically enables you to be a better human being. A life of compassion, humility, kindness, empathy, and understanding leads to a path of righteousness filled with respect for humankind. Our world is constantly changing and evolving and if we are clueless to understand the change or even do not question anything, we will no doubt not evolve humanity for the better.

“Freethinkers are those who are willing to use their minds without prejudice and without fearing to understand things that clash with their own customs, privileges, or beliefs. This state of mind is not common, but it is essential for critical thinking.” - Leo Tolstoy