Why Think Critically?

You learned in Part Five: Contrast that some things can be
best explained by describing their opposite. Consider the noncritical
thinking approach to life:
» live with your problems rather than resolving them.
» feel frustrated with life’s challenges and imperfections.
» blame unhappiness, discomfort and frustration on
The unexamined
life is not worth
living.
- Socrates
Point of View
158 The Art & Craft of Writing external forces rather than looking inward and improving the self to
better deal with those external forces.
» feel overwhelmed by challenges and responsibilities.
» aggravate others when trying to share ideas.
» miss out on life’s most rewarding moments, which are best enjoyed
by a fully-aware mind.
On the other hand, non-critical thinkers enjoy these perks (if you can
consider them pluses):
» no need to revise opinions or think flexibly.
» arguments won by the loudest, biggest or most persistent.
» everyone else is an idiot and even though the world is a frustrating
mess, at least they have the comfort of knowing that it’s not their
fault.
» enjoy television and movies with shallow, obvious plots and cliché
characters.
» no need to analyze anything, no need to weigh evidence or reason
- their first impression is always correct.
» no need to listen to other opinions or take them seriously. Just wait
their turn to talk again and enlighten everyone else.
» no need to think at all - adequately guided by feelings.
Which of these descriptions frequently applies to you? Do they make
your life easier or more difficult? More or less enjoyable? Who do you know
who demonstrates these characteristics? Would you advise them to remain
the same or swap their habits in for critical thinking approaches?
In contrast, the critical thinker:
» views problems and controversial issues as exciting challenges.
» continually seeks new information to enhance understanding and
abilities.
» remains curious and excited about life and the world.
» is honest with him/herself.
» makes fewer mistakes due to having learned from others’, yet when
s/he does err, s/he’s less likely to condemn him/herself and feel
shame or guilt, and more likely to get on with his/her life with a
positive attitude because s/he recognizes the role mistakes play in
learning and that a failure does not make her/him a failure.
» makes an interesting and fun conversational partner, takes interest
in others’ ideas, even in disagreements.
» takes criticism more easily without getting defensive because s/he
has learned to weigh other opinions and make up her/his own
mind.
» remains more patient and calm with complexity and confusion.
» waits for sufficient evidence before judging and forming opinions.
» acts fairly, avoiding most extreme views, and is willing to concede
points to opponents.
» thinks before acting, controlling feelings appropriately. 3
Which of these descriptions frequently applies to you? Who enjoys
Everyone
has a right
to their
own stupid
opinion.
Point
of View
Life is hard,
but it’s a lot
harder when
you’re an
idiot.
Point
of View
When I
want your
opinion,
I’ll give it to you.
Point
of View
Everyone
has a right
to my
opinion.
Point
of View
11: Critical Thinking 159
a higher quality life? Clearly, the critical thinker. Who enjoys an easier
life? The non-critical thinker may avoid the initial investment of thought,
but then lives with the burden of many challenges that the critical thinker
resolves.
Of course this section has discussed the issue in a false dichotomy of
critical thinkers verses non-critical thinkers. The fact is that everyone’s
thinking skills and habits fall somewhere along a continuum. Few people
think all the time, and if they do, they’re probably missing out on another
of life’s most rewarding elements - feelings.