Critical thinking is an attribute we all need in today’s society. I started these lines after seeing a number of posts on a social media where people were looking for candidates for different jobs. One of the attributes required, regardless of the position in question, was critical thinking. This is how I began to think about what this critical thinking is, what its role is, and last but not least why it is in such high demand.
Some would say that critical thinking is when you say what you would change in a given situation. Others would say that a deep analysis, in detail, of some situations actually qualifies without a doubt as critical thinking. From my point of view, however, this type of thinking occurs when people identify around them, in a job, in a specific situation, etc. an information that they do not receive as it is, but decide to pass it through the filter of their own thinking.
In my view and in simple terms, the role of critical thinking is to train neurons, to keep us in an adequate and decent mental form, to cope with the situations we face, to avoid any kind of manipulation through logical analysis, reasoning and arguments.
What amazes me, however, is the fact that although, apparently, critical thinking is so demanded in the case of hiring and is such a valued feature for employers, in reality in everyday life, it becomes such a rare attribute, so underestimated, and even so misused in the sense that, although people believe in the need of critical thinking, when it comes to their job, when it comes to their lives, somehow critical thinking disappears miraculously, and it is even confused with criticism in the common sense of the term.
For example, people no longer think critically when it comes to the information they assimilate, which they allow their brains to receive and consider real. Few people watch the news or read news online, and the next thing they do is check a second or a third source that presents the same news to see if what they hear is really real or not, or at least to see what percentage of what they originally heard is true. No wonder fake news has become so widespread. No one asks “what is the purpose of this news?”, “How categorical is the opinion in this article?”, “Is there a hidden message or a hidden purpose of this communication?”.
What is even sadder, however, is the fact that people have come to criticize not the information they receive, or the things they see, the actions that should be criticized or improved, but the people around them. This is why, in most cases, critical thinking is seriously confused with the process by which people simply become querulous. People have come to criticize everything around them, from the politicians who lead us, to the people close to them, parents, children, siblings, etc., in other words anything but what is needed to be criticised.
But the real problem comes from the fact that these criticisms are not accompanied by solutions at all. I absolutely agree with the constructive criticism on the model: Criticize me to become better, guide me and put a brick to what I want to build. Then, yes, I agree. I accept criticism, I analyse what I am being told, and decide accordingly. But that doesn’t happen at all. Today’s critique works on the model: I show you what you’re doing wrong, I exaggerate a bit to add a sensational note, and then I stop, you can do whatever you want.
I find this very sad. Therefore, I suggest you become aware of a few things:
- It is absolutely necessary to possess this quality – critical thinking.
- It is absolutely necessary to use it both in our job and in our daily life.
- It is very important to form our own filter of thought, not to accept everything we are given either on TV, or in the online environment, or even in reality through peer interaction.
- It is vital to always investigate what we hear, what we see, what we read.
- It is acceptable to criticize situations when we think we can improve those situations with something.
- It is acceptable to constructively criticize the people around us, but again, on a constructive note, when we consider that we can contribute something to the development of that person.
- It is NOT acceptable to accept as real and true anything, anyway, anywhere, just because it comes from an external or apparently reliable source.
- And it’s definitely NOT acceptable to criticize people more than things.
Let’s develop our critical thinking both in its common, traditional sense, and in a proper sense of the concept itself. But let’s focus on the process by which we become critical of things, not of people.
And whatever we do, let’s do it with love. Even criticism.
“Do everything in love.”
(1 Corinthians 16:14)
Be blessed and remain in the Father’s Love!
Xoxo,
The Father’s Love Team