We have freedom of speech but we're afraid to speak. Our lives have become subjected to PC tyranny-a constant fear of "offending" someone. We think that we are independent and that it is the other guy who is influenced, brainwashed, duped, persuaded. We feel like we think for ourselves. How can we "feel" otherwise? There's no way to know because countless influences and interactions have molded us.We're members of various groups-circles of friends, family, professional groups, hobby group, and workplace groups. Groups have a way of developing a view that it imposes with a kind of group-think. We want to belong, to be liked and included so go along and get along. We don't make waves by questioning. If we have a different view, we keep it to ourselves. Why rock the boat?
Thinking for yourself is not so easy. When encountering an argument to a long held opinion or a wild idea, we use critical thinking to evaluate it, as we were taught to do in school. The problem is that critical thinking is critical. It focuses our thinking on the negative-what doesn't work, what's wrong with the idea-and encourages my-side thinking where we evaluate evidence in a way that favors our beliefs and entraps us into closed-mindedness. Thinking for yourself requires open-mindedness. Open-mindedness is being receptive and, when the issue is important, calls for actively searching for evidence against your beliefs.
Thinking is not driven by answers but by questions. Every intellectual field is born out of a cluster of questions to which answers are needed. Had no questions been asked by those who laid the foundation for a field - for example, Physics or Biology - the field would never have been developed.
We define tasks, express problems and delineate issues with questions. Answers signal an end point and stop thought, except when an answer generates a further question.
Timothy Leary said, "to think for yourself you must question authority". To think, you must question. To think through or rethink anything, one must ask questions that stimulate thought. The quality of your questions determines the quality of your thinking.
Thinking begins within some content when questions are generated. No questions equals no understanding. To engage in thinking through your content you must stimulate your thinking with questions that lead to further questions.
Our own opinions is one authority we should frequently question. Times change. We change. Perspectives and values change. Book explores how opinions and values we held in the past need periodic evaluation and challenge. Independent thinkers evolve and need to shed the shackles of old views and opinions.
Ridicule is the strongest weapon for pressing us to conform. It is a kind of bait that if you go for it will entrap you in an argument you can't win and leave you looking ridiculous and deflated.
Question Authority; Think for Yourself offers techniques, with examples, of how to deflect attacks, side-tracks, and put-downs.
If you've bitten your tongue and later wished you'd spoken up and not been cowed into silence by a mocking co-worker when you revealed a "politically incorrect" viewpoint, you'll find much of interest in
Question Authority; Think for Yourself .
Wehave freedom of speech but we're afraid to speak. Our lives have becomesubjected to PC tyranny--a constant fear of "offending" someone. Wethink that we are independent and that it is the other guy who is influenced,brain washed, duped, persuaded. We feel like we think for ourselves. How can we"feel" otherwise? There's no way to know because countless influencesand interactions have molded us.
We're members ofvarious groups--circles of friends, family, professional groups, hobby group,and workplace groups. Groups have a way of developing a view that it imposeswith a kind of group-think. We want to belong, to be liked and included so goalong and get along. We don't make waves by questioning. If we have a differentview, we keep it to ourselves. Why rock the boat?
Thinking for yourselfis not so easy. When encountering an argument to a long held opinion or a wildidea, we use critical thinking to evaluate it, as we were taught to do inschool. The problem is that critical thinking is critical. It focuses ourthinking on the negative--what doesn't work, what's wrong with the idea--andencourages my-side thinking where we evaluate evidence in a way that favors ourbeliefs and entraps us into closed-mindedness. Thinking for yourself requiresopen-mindedness. Open-mindedness is being receptive and, when the issue isimportant, calls for actively searching for evidence against your beliefs.
Thinking is not drivenby answers but by questions. Every intellectual field is born out of a clusterof questions to which answers are needed. Had no questions been asked by thosewho laid the foundation for a field -- for example, Physics or Biology -- thefield would never have been developed.
We define tasks,express problems and delineate issues with questions. Answers signal an endpoint and stop thought, except when an answer generates a further question.
Timothy Leary said,"to think for yourself you must question authority". To think, youmust question. To think through or rethink anything, one must ask questions thatstimulate thought. The quality of your questions determines the quality of yourthinking.
Thinking begins withinsome content when questions are generated. No questions equals nounderstanding. To engage in thinking through your content you must stimulateyour thinking with questions that lead to further questions.
Our own opinions isone authority we should frequently question. Times change. We change.Perspectives and values change. Book explores how opinions and values we heldin the past need periodic evaluation and challenge. Independent thinkers evolveand need to shed the shackles of old views and opinions.
Ridicule is thestrongest weapon for pressing us to conform. It is a kind of bait that if yougo for it will entrap you in an argument you can't win and leave you lookingridiculous and deflated. Question Authority; Think for Yourself offerstechniques, with examples, of how to deflect attacks, side-tracks, andput-downs.
If you've bitten yourtongue and later wished you'd spoken up and not been cowed into silence by amocking co-worker when you revealed a "politically incorrect"viewpoint, you'll find much of interest in Question Authority; Thinkfor Yourself .
