On the Value of Thinking

DISCLAIMER: I fully accept the probability that anyone who is actually reading this article is by definition not someone who particularly needs to be advised of the value of critical thinking.  In the vernacular, I am preaching to the choir, and I know it.  Thank you very much. Please continue reading.

FURTHER DISCLAIMER: I had every intention of writing a quasi-scholarly article about the merits of thinking.  Alex Atkins inspired me with all of his Isaac Asimov quoting and what-not.  Turns out momentary inspiration can only go so far when it comes to assembling a thoughtful piece about thinking.  Anyway, I hope you still continue reading.

And, by the way, let me know what you think.

TO BLAB, PERCHANCE TO INFLUENCE

These days we seem to hear a lot of emotional blabbing that apparently does not emerge from careful thought and consideration of objective facts. This can be discouraging.

However, I console myself that we are (probably) hearing from a relatively small segment of society; i.e., for the most part, the ones who are taking the time to think are not the ones who are blabbing.

In terms of social influence I am not sure this is a good thing.

It reminds me of the expression “self-licking ice cream cone.”  The part of our national culture that is making the most noise is feeding on itself, which is not an appetizing image nor is it a comforting prospect for the future of thinking in America.

I’m not sure what the history of thinking is in this country (that would be an interesting timeline), but we have a lot of “thought-based” idiomatic expressions in our lingo.

Have you given any thought to this?

That’s what you think.

You’ve got another think coming.

On the one hand, the act of thinking is something none of us can avoid. We never stop thinking; except, one might argue, when we are asleep or unconscious. But the truth of the latter is a debate for neuroscientists, one of which I am not.

What I am writing about here is in fact NOT brain surgery.

On the other hand, what we have come to call “critical thinking” seems to be sliding rapidly toward extinction.  We should start a “go-fund-me” to save the critical thoughts.

It appears to me – especially because I find myself guilty of this too often – that few people are willing to take the time to study something before trumpeting an opinion.  There truly seems to be no consideration, no careful thought invested in the constant gush of ugliness that passes for “news” lately.  When I say “lately” I mean essentially the last fifteen to twenty years (or more).

I blame the internet.

The internet seems to be our only source of information anymore.  That is not inherently and immediately a bad thing.  I am confident that “the truth is out there.”  But I am also convinced that there is way too much not-truth.

We used to understand the difference between facts and opinions. Also, we used to accept the fact that opinions differ, and we even (usually) respected everyone’s freedoms to form and express their own opinions.

Now when we have a difference of opinion we immediately start calling each other names. Very civilized and sophisticated, no?

How can we tell whether someone has thought about something before they started speaking about it?

I would say when someone offers organized sentences in a calm manner, and when those sentences are sensible, and when there is zero accusation and name-calling.

Zero.

Unfortunately, it does not take long to find floods of uncontrolled vitriol on “social” media. The slightest provocation brings it out in full force.

Nevertheless, our language continues to give evidence that we, at least subliminally, place great value on the act of thinking.  Apparently the idea of the importance of thinking is ingrained in our cultural substance.

For example:

What does it mean when we call someone “thoughtless”? 

Or why do we use the (pseudo-) excuse “I guess I wasn’t thinking”?

Or the other side of that coin, when someone does something stu-, I mean, um... unexpected, we will ask, “What were you thinking?”

We are literally always thinking. So, how can we place a value on “thinking”?  Would that be akin to placing a value on “breathing”?  Well, when you THINK about it... if we stop breathing, we die.  What happens if we stop thinking?

THE STUDY OF THINKING

There are people who have made entire lifetimes and careers out of thinking about thinking.  I mean to say, people who are (or may be) smarter than me have devoted great chunks of their lives to analyzing the processes and results involved in the human activity of thinking.

Books, articles, videos, lectures, essays, poems, diatribes, monographs, white papers, theses (including Luther’s 95), telegrams, fortune cookies, and any number of other written and verbal communications have contributed to a rather daunting collection of research, statistics, and opinions concerning what it means to think, how we do it, and how it affects our personal lives and ultimately the course of human history.

Think about it.  :)

To get to where we are in the trajectory of human civilization, a lot of people had to do some serious thinking, and then they had to take action based on the thoughts they thought. Among the manifold results of all that thinking and acting is the fact that I am typing this article on a “keyboard” that is communicating with a “computer,” and when I need to move the “cursor” I wiggle my “mouse” to get it where I want it on the “monitor.”

All of that took some thinking, and acting, and a fair amount of buying and selling.

Apparently some people are still thinking, if the continuing flow of arts and sciences is any measure.  Heck, I’m doing a fair amount of thinking just to write this piece. In the end, you can be the judge of that, I suppose.

WHERE HAS ALL THE THINKING GONE?

Nevertheless, therefore, and so on...  I admit, sometimes these days it seems like no one is thinking, especially our government.  [Stand back, please. The hot water is already arcing toward me.] But this article is not about that. Too mucky.  Ick, ptui.

This is about all of us. Everyperson.

How much are we truly called upon to think anymore?

We make a lot of choices all day long that require a certain amount of brain activity; e.g., whether to get out of bed, what to eat for breakfast, what clothes to put on, what show(s) to watch, what to order online, whether to “friend” or “like” or “block” or “boost” or “share” or use a particular “emoji” or any of seemingly hundreds of other “choices” about how to interact on “social media”...  you get my point.  We make lots of little decisions every day that keep us on the merry-go-round.

We breathe. We speak. We write, maybe. A diminishing few of us read.  There might be laughter or tears. There will be bathroom breaks. And beverages and snacks.

Let’s just admit it.  We seem to emote quite a bit, but there is very little actual thought behind the emoting.

We decide what to “think” about an issue based on how we feel about it, possibly taking into slight consideration a couple of headlines we saw or sound bites we heard or because our cousin Fritz  said so – and that may be because we have long since decided that we will always agree with Fritz or we will always disagree with Fritz*.

We do not take the time to find and consume objective facts about what we are hearing and seeing.  Mostly we cannot be bothered. Our heads are busy trying to analyze the merits of one popular movie over another so we will know which one to see if we go to the theater.  Plus, we want to see the same movies and shows our friends have seen so we can add to the so-called conversation.  We want to have something cogent to contribute.  Does anybody know what “cogent” is anymore? 

Our heroes these days are the trivia experts. They are so smart! How do they KNOW all that stuff??  And why are there SO MANY game shows based on trivia??  And apps.  There are a few trillion apps for trivia-mongers.  What’s up with that?

How do I decide between ‘ranch,’ ‘honey mustard,’ and ‘barbecue’ dipping sauce?

I am genuinely concerned that we might experience actual physical pain if we find ourselves called upon to honestly THINK about something.  We are just so used to reacting; i.e., without thinking. 

Our thinking seems to be limited to mundane decision-making about trivial matters; and it is not helping our physical and mental well-being. [Ask your doctor if thinking is right for you.]

BRAIN GAMES

We try to challenge ourselves with things like Sudoku and Word Search and Crosswords; or maybe we can help those Hallmark Mystery detectives figure out who done it?

Can we get ourselves out of this scary “Escape Room”?

Do we understand the difference between a democracy and a republic?  Do we know how to hold our representatives accountable for their constituencies?  Can we sort through the various statistics that supposedly tell us about employment rates, taxes, gross domestic product, national debt, trade deficits, etc etc etc?  Why do we think there should or should not be a border wall?  Are celebrities really our best source for political and social information and understanding?

Can we get beyond stereotypes, generalizations, prejudices, and dogmatism?

We have a lot of thinking to do, and I dare say, some acting, too.

 

Not “pretending you are somebody else” acting, but actual active action-packed acting.

Like, doing stuff.

At least, I think we do.  What do you think?

Go to your room and think about what you haven’t done.

NOTE: No offense intended toward any and all Fritz’s that may be reading or otherwise exposed to this article. No Fritz was harmed in the writing of this article.  I do not now nor have I ever had a cousin named Fritz. This is not the Fritz you are looking for. Subject to change without notice. Actual results may vary. Fasten seatbelt. Keep hands and feet inside the ride at all times. Batteries not included. Apply to affected area only. Keep away from people who may or may not consider thinking about it.