Are We Losing Our Ability to Think Critically?

When was the last time you questioned someone’s sources?

Sajjad Choudhury
The Apeiron Blog

An image of a mask holding a smaller mask
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Critical thinking is a key skill. It allows us to make decisions, solve complex problems and understand other people and the world better. It’s an important trait in our personal and work lives, and we can hone this skill over time by asking questions, using rationality, and staying well-informed.

In our modern society, it’s even more important as it allows us to think outside the box. In a technologically driven world, innovation leads to progress, which is needed to help solve the world’s greatest challenges.

“Critical thinking as an attitude is embedded in Western culture. There is a belief that argument is the way to finding truth’” — Adrian West

But is this attitude starting to fade? Are we losing our ability to make rational judgments by becoming more inclined to go with the crowd?

In the age of smartphones and high-speed internet, information is readily available at our fingertips, but not all of that information is useful. More data doesn’t necessarily mean better data. We’re bombarded with assumptions, opinions, and biased news daily, but how many of us question what…

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Responses (11)

What are your thoughts?

I check sources all the time. When Andrew Merle recently published a piece about eating chocolate in the morning as a weight-loss strategy, I just assumed the study had been funded by Hershey's. But I clicked through his link and it looked legit. And oh, how I want to believe!

Critical thinking is absolutely essential to getting at the truth of anything. One should question everything, especially that which one holds sacrosanct.

I couldn't agree more! I'm in the middle of writing a utopian short story and the single factor that allows for the formation of utopia is a change in the education system to foster critical thinking skills!
However, I think we, as information…...