Asking The Right Questions - Cha

Asking The Right Questions - Chapter 2

Summary

Speed Bumps Interfering with Your Critical Thinking

The author list and illustrate a series of barriers to critical thinking as follows:

The Discomfort of Asking the Right Questions

Some people may feel uncomfortable being critical or questioned about their beliefs. However, it is necessary for them to explain their reasons that support their arguments or why they supports those reasons.

Thinking Too Quickly

The principle is simple. We need to spare some time for our brain processing the content. Try to slow down and digest the information more than once.

Stereotypes

Sometimes stereotypes are commonly used because they save time. But stereotypes are rarely safe. They get in the way of critical thinking by attempting to short circuit the difficult process of evaluation, which may cause us to ignore valuable information by closing our minds prematurely.

Mental Habits That Betray Us

Mental habits may limit or betray our cognitive capabilities unless we rope and tie them to let them behave. 

Halo Effect

The halo effect refers to our tendency to recognize one positive or negative quality or trait of a person, and then associate that quality or trait with everything about that person. Our perceptions towards people influence our evaluation about their argument, which may lead to biases.

Belief Perseverance

This tendency for personal beliefs to stick or persevere is a major obstacle to critical thinking. We are biased from the start of an exchange in favor of our current opinions and conclusions. To counter belief perseverance, we should remember that strong sense critical thinking requires the recognition that judgments are tentative or contextual.

Availability Heuristic

The availability heuristic refers to the mental shortcut we use again and again of forming conclusions based on whatever information is immediately available to us. It is dangerous when we intentionally stay away from obtaining and processing additional information that requires time and energy, and rely on the information we possess to make a decision.

Answering the Wrong Question

The point for a critical thinker is that whenever anyone provides an answer to a question that was not asked, that behavior diverts attention away from where the discussion began. Instead, it starts an altogether different discussion.

Egocentrism

Egocentrism refers to the central role we assign to our world, as opposed to the experiences and opinions of others. But it is sometimes more important to be aware of our audience when we make arguments or when we evaluate arguments. It is especially important when we interacting with those who have not learned the skills and importance of critical thinking.

Wishful Thinking

Wishful thinking, which is perhaps the biggest single speed bump on the road to critical thinking, has its power because we prefer facts conform to our beliefs rather than fitting our beliefs to them. But the truth is, science can not always give explanations on people's imaginary world and wishful thinking can be very painful.  

Thought

这一讲讲到了缓冲带，提到了个人观念的几个误区和常见的“想当然“，我读到的是反思和谦逊。人和世界相比太过渺小，和真理相比太过无知。不骄不躁地看待这个世界的一切、细致入微地探求真理是需要人类脚踏实地的修行。上善若水，虚怀若谷，永远好奇、永远无知、永远热爱。