The Forgotten Art of Independent Thinking
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The inadequacy of not being able to think for one's self cannot be overstated, particularly as this information is not simply at our demand but under our control. We live in a world where we can see only what we choose to see, hear only what we choose to hear, and read only what we choose to read.
The highly lauded personalization of information protects us from exposure to anything that might challenge our thinking or make us uncomfortable. Unchecked, we begin to follow only the echo of our own voice. Or, even worse, the voice of someone else, like the media.
The reality is that most people do not believe that the media is not edited and they believe everything they read or see on the news. We are increasingly outsourcing our minds to our networks. We depend less on facts today than we did a few decades back.
Furthermore, In this era of social networking, we simply follow the path of least resistance. And it has been proven that in doing so, we lose a bit of our independence. Oftentimes, the desire of least resistance and fear of being attacked by providing independent insights by our networks encouraged us to follow the popular opinion.
Independent thinking means removing blind trust in what others say and to critically evaluate what it means to you and how it impacts you or the world around you, even when it flies in the face of what you want to be true. Questioning authority is becoming more acceptable these days and requires us to have more self-trust in order to decide what we believe to be true or not.Going against the majority is scary since it can result in alienation from those who believe a certain concept or way of being to be true. The first indication that it’s time to question the information is how it makes you feel when you hear it.
Independent thinking is the only way we set ourselves to higher standards and prevent the manipulation of the current era.
At the same time, the difficulty of independent thought cannot be understated. I hesitate to say whether I've personally known any person who was truly independent of mind. Only a handful of people alive today whom I've read and not met would I venture to say can claim to be independent thinkers.
I understand the self-actualizing that crowns independent thought to be an universal human aspiration which is not generally conceived in terms of thought or language. In today's culture it is mistakenly understood as the mere absence of material constraints or oppressions. That spirit is a superficial derivation from the post war concept of "questioning authority."
Tucked into the post is the observation that "questioning authority" is "more acceptable these days." This is interesting since practical wisdom tells that when you go against the flow you are being independent. So, when "questioning authority" is in fact promoted by education from elementary through university and endorsed socially, then is that still independence?
If authority is overturned, then from what mainstream can you deviate by striking out on your own? Do you flounder in a shoreless ocean? I think a different sort of authority has replaced the old authority of the institutions and conventions of tradition. This kind of authority respected today is the charm of ideology or the raw power of force which lurks behind all ideology. The ocean still makes waves.
In this environment, the independent thinking so desired cannot emerge to carve out its own course to run. For independent thought to grow and emerge, thought needs a harbor, a bounded world in which to develop its competence in safety and from which to eventually break free like a rivulet trickling from the edge of the lake.
Instead, the education in Britain and America lazily encourages children to "embrace their natural creativity" and youth to "question authority," whilst neglecting to provide the structure and teach the skills necessary to learn how to think, which will enable individuals, when they mature and carve out individual identities for themselves, to think independently.
We depend less on facts today than we did a few decades back
Like Tonto said to the Lone Ranger
"what do you mean WE whiteman?"
(that's a joke)
Needless to say I disagree.
Adulting is hard. That's why Martin Luther invented the printing press.(another joke) Prior to that everyone depended on 'daddy' (the priest) to tell them what to do and think.
Since the invention of books that changed.
Since the invention of the internet (the information age) that changed a LOT.
In the age of information ignorance is a choice.
If you're NOT ignorant you HAVE to think
Cognitive Dissonance is a thing.
That's why I disagree...there's a BUNCATON of people today, more so perhaps than at any time in history, who are thinking for themselves.
The media (and their masters) don't LIKE it..that's why they invented the term FAKE NEWS
They don't want any competition for your attention.
Up until now you could take what they say as the gospel truth (martin luther again) or leave it.
Oddly enough it's getting easier and easier to leave it.
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Well if you look at it from that angle then yes, the media is a big part of the problem. I just feel the people should also take some flack for allowing themselves to be manipulated. It works both ways
The media IS the problem...as are the churches and the public education system.
Can people be held responsible for allowing something to happen to them when they don't even know that it's happening?
Curated for #informationwar (by @wakeupnd)
Relevance: Truth in knowledge.
P.S.: There's sum valuable info on this YouTube Channel ;) <3