If we are not able to ask skeptical questions, to interrogate those who tell us something is true, to be skeptical of those in authority, then, we are set up for the next charlatan (political or religious) who comes ambling along. –Carl Sagan
As a reminder, Gentle Reader, in PART II, I offered us two questions; this morning we will continue with our exploration. Here are the two questions: How do we go about recognizing critical thinking? What characteristics might we look for; characteristics, if present, reveal to us a critical thinker?
Emotive & Rational. ‘Thinking critically’ is too often viewed/experienced as a rational activity; the belief is that emotions hinder or cloud thinking critically. Consider, however, Gentle Reader, that we are primarily emotive beings. Consider: How many times have you responded emotionally or made a choice or took an action that was rooted in ‘emotion-first’ and only afterwards did you construct a ‘rationale’ for your feeling or choice or action?
Consider that asking critical questions about our previously held values, ideas, behaviors, principles and assumptions is, at minimum, anxiety-producing and a maximum is extremely emotionally disturbing. Yet if we are going to ‘change’ or ‘transform’ emerging, framing, asking and responding to these types of questions is crucial.
When I ask critical questions I might become fear-full of the consequences that might emerge. The range of consequences (intended and unintended) is broad; consider this short list: a viable alternative might emerge, resistance might surface, resentment might flower, confusion might…well, confusion might confuse. We might also, however, experience, joy, release (from being stuck), relief, or even exhilaration as we break through to new ways of looking at our worlds (think: personal, relational, work, religious, philosophic and/or political).
More than 45 years ago, Lowell, my mentor at the time, was sitting with me and I was telling him how fear-full I was. I was contemplating a life-changing move, a move I knew I needed to make and I could not ‘find’ the courage amidst the fear. Lowell invited me to close my eyes and image ‘my’ fear. Once I had done this he invited me to approach ‘my’ fear and embrace it. Then Lowell invited me to look over ‘my’ fear’s shoulder and I would see courage, patiently waiting to be called forth. Once I had embraced my fear and beheld my courage Lowell then invited me into a deep searching conversation. The emotive preceded the rational.
During these many years since when I have had the privilege of serving the police, the military, fire-fighters and other first-responders this story always resonated with them for in times of ‘need’ they had to embrace their fear and find and call forth the courage that resided behind the fear. They, too, said that acknowledging and in a sense ‘embracing’ their fear(s) allowed them to perceive the courage that they then called forth. As one fire-fighter remarked: I entered the burning building full of fear, trembling and courage; we all went in together. I still love that image.
As we abandon our assumptions, prejudices, stereotypes, ‘sureties,’ beliefs that are hindering or depleting our development we do experience a sense of liberation. As we wake up and become aware that we have the power (power = one’s ability to act rooted in moral integrity) to change, we are emotionally charged in a positive way (mostly, it seems).
Consider that thinking critically and denying or ignoring or dismissing emotions puts the thinker in harm’s way.
So now, Gentle Reader, you might ask: What are some of the components of thinking critically?
An expert is someone who has stopped thinking critically because he knows. –Frank Lloyd Wright
Searcher-Seeker 