To refuse to examine the assumptions one lives by is immoral. –Robert K. Greenleaf
Good morning, Gentle Reader. Last time I left us with a question: What are some of the components of thinking critically? This morning I will begin to respond to this question.
There are a number of components. I will offer us four of them to consider and this morning we will focus on one of them.
‘Assumption-Finding’ is Central. Discerning, emerging, naming and challenging our assumptions, especially our deep tacit assumptions is central and critical if we are going to develop or develop more fully our capacity for thinking critically. Our assumptions, especially our deep tacit assumptions, underlie, support, inform, form and guide our ideas, beliefs, values, stereotypes, prejudices, and actions. We take these for granted; we ‘assume’ they are ‘valid’ and hence that they are ‘normal.’
As critical thinkers we are challenged to examine their validity, their ‘being normal,’ and their accuracy. This, of course, is no easy charge. We find many ways to resist any or all of the steps it takes us to emerge and engage them. We are, to put it simply, ‘Professional Resisters’ when it comes to focusing on our own assumptions, especially when it comes to our deep tacit assumptions. A main reason – if not ‘the’ main reason – we resist is that our very identity is at stake (actually, it is not but it certainly feels this way to us and we react as if our identity is at stake for in some way we have become our assumptions).
Most of us seem to know that our ‘assumptions’ are…well…they are our ‘assumptions.’ They are not ‘reality.’ Yet, when pressed, or challenged, our ‘assumptions’ are defended as if they are, indeed, ‘reality.’ We humans are truly living paradoxes. Our assumptions frame our relationships – and frame those we will ‘allow in’ and those we will seek to ‘keep out’ (think: the ‘stranger’ we fear because we ‘assume’ he/she will harm us. An Ex-President is an expert when it comes to using his and our assumptions to keep the ‘stranger’ at bay).
Each political party is rooted in many deep tacit assumptions and each seeks to recruit members based upon these assumptions. The ‘Independent Voter’ is supposed to be ‘free of being seduced’ by the assumptions of either party; but this is another assumption that seems not to be true today.
Critical Thinkers are open to letting go of and replacing assumptions that might now be ‘invalid’ (think: ‘All Republicans are rich and white and fear-full of all non-whites.’ Or: ‘All Democrats want to tax and spend us to death.’). This raises another powerful rationale for keeping our assumptions: We do not want to be shunned or expelled from our ‘community/’tribe.’ The worst thing that can happen to us is to be isolated – thus, communal assumptions are powerful assumptions used to hold onto members, and recruit new members.
By the by, Gentle Reader, discerning, emerging, naming and challenging our assumptions, especially our deep tacit assumptions does not mean that we ‘have to give them up.’ On the other hand, if we are going to develop, or develop more fully, our critical thinking skills/capacitiesthis process is a crucial process. It is also a life-long process.
This process, in itself can be meaning-full and help-full. This process can also be enhanced by integrating it with the next three components.
We convince by our presence. –Walt Whitman
Searcher-Seeker 