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We’re lucky to live in an age where the sum total of human knowledge We’re lucky to live in an age where the sum total of human knowledge
We’re
lucky
to
live
in
an
age
where
the
sum
total
of
human
knowledge
is pretty much available at the click of a button. is pretty much available at the click of a button.
is
pretty
much
available
at
the
click
of
a
button
We’ve never had access to so much information. We’ve never had access to so much information.
We’ve
never
had
access
to
so
much
information
But not all of what’s out there is quite what it seems. But not all of what’s out there is quite what it seems.
But
not
all
of
what’s
out
there
is
quite
what
it
seems
So here’s a few strategies to navigate your way through. So here’s a few strategies to navigate your way through.
So
here’s
a
few
strategies
to
navigate
your
way
through
And avoid falling out with people along the way. And avoid falling out with people along the way.
And
avoid
falling
out
with
people
along
the
way
We all enjoy that sweet dopamine hit of feeling like we’re right. We all enjoy that sweet dopamine hit of feeling like we’re right.
We
all
enjoy
that
sweet
dopamine
hit
of
feeling
like
we’re
right
In repeated experiments, psychologists have shown In repeated experiments, psychologists have shown
In
repeated
experiments
psychologists
have
shown
we’re much more likely to accept something as evidence we’re much more likely to accept something as evidence
we’re
much
more
likely
to
accept
something
as
evidence
if it confirms what we already think we know. if it confirms what we already think we know.
if
it
confirms
what
we
already
think
we
know
And much more likely to discount information And much more likely to discount information
And
much
more
likely
to
discount
information
if it contradicts our views. if it contradicts our views.
if
it
contradicts
our
views
It’s what’s known as “confirmation bias”. It’s what’s known as “confirmation bias”.
It’s
what’s
known
as
“confirmation
bias”
It’s one of the key “cognitive biases” that humans have, It’s one of the key “cognitive biases” that humans have,
It’s
one
of
the
key
“cognitive
biases”
that
humans
have
and it operates at an unconscious level - and it operates at an unconscious level -
and
it
operates
at
an
unconscious
level
affecting our ability to process information. affecting our ability to process information.
affecting
our
ability
to
process
information
This is especially true for issues which are emotionally charged, This is especially true for issues which are emotionally charged,
This
is
especially
true
for
issues
which
are
emotionally
charged
or where our views are deeply held. or where our views are deeply held.
or
where
our
views
are
deeply
held
But it can come into play at any time. But it can come into play at any time.
But
it
can
come
into
play
at
any
time
So don’t rush to decide, So don’t rush to decide,
So
don’t
rush
to
decide
and be actively prepared to change your mind. and be actively prepared to change your mind.
and
be
actively
prepared
to
change
your
mind
So many of our discussions take place on social media platforms So many of our discussions take place on social media platforms
So
many
of
our
discussions
take
place
on
social
media
platforms
where algorithms reward our desire to see and hear our views confirmed. where algorithms reward our desire to see and hear our views confirmed.
where
algorithms
reward
our
desire
to
see
and
hear
our
views
confirmed
But in life, most situations are nuanced and complicated – But in life, most situations are nuanced and complicated –
But
in
life
most
situations
are
nuanced
and
complicated
–
acknowledging that can enrich the way that we view the world. acknowledging that can enrich the way that we view the world.
acknowledging
that
can
enrich
the
way
that
we
view
the
world
For example, what colour is the sky? Well, the obvious answer is blue. For example, what colour is the sky? Well, the obvious answer is blue.
For
example
what
colour
is
the
sky
Well
the
obvious
answer
is
blue
But at sunrise or sunset, it can be red. But at sunrise or sunset, it can be red.
But
at
sunrise
or
sunset
it
can
be
red
On a cold misty morning, white or grey. On a cold misty morning, white or grey.
On
a
cold
misty
morning
white
or
grey
At night, midnight blue or black. At night, midnight blue or black.
At
night
midnight
blue
or
black
But imagine for a moment the blue of the sky on a sunny day. But imagine for a moment the blue of the sky on a sunny day.
But
imagine
for
a
moment
the
blue
of
the
sky
on
a
sunny
day
Is it really blue? Is it really blue?
Is
it
really
blue
The colour blue has a short wavelength, The colour blue has a short wavelength,
The
colour
blue
has
a
short
wavelength
meaning it scatters more than other colours - meaning it scatters more than other colours -
meaning
it
scatters
more
than
other
colours
making it more visible to the human eye. making it more visible to the human eye.
making
it
more
visible
to
the
human
eye
So the sky looks blue to us humans, So the sky looks blue to us humans,
So
the
sky
looks
blue
to
us
humans
even though there’s a whole spectrum of colours out there. even though there’s a whole spectrum of colours out there.
even
though
there’s
a
whole
spectrum
of
colours
out
there
Even something that seems totally self-evident Even something that seems totally self-evident
Even
something
that
seems
totally
self-evident
can be more nuanced than you think. can be more nuanced than you think.
can
be
more
nuanced
than
you
think
One approach to, well, arguing, One approach to, well, arguing,
One
approach
to
well
arguing
is to let go of the idea of being “right”. is to let go of the idea of being “right”.
is
to
let
go
of
the
idea
of
being
“right”
Or at least seriously consider that you might actually be wrong. Or at least seriously consider that you might actually be wrong.
Or
at
least
seriously
consider
that
you
might
actually
be
wrong
Putting yourself in the other person’s shoes Putting yourself in the other person’s shoes
Putting
yourself
in
the
other
person’s
shoes
can lead to much more productive outcomes. can lead to much more productive outcomes.
can
lead
to
much
more
productive
outcomes
Really try to understand where the other person is coming from. Really try to understand where the other person is coming from.
Really
try
to
understand
where
the
other
person
is
coming
from
It’s what’s called “intellectual empathy”. It’s what’s called “intellectual empathy”.
It’s
what’s
called
“intellectual
empathy”
It can be challenging, but that’s the point. It can be challenging, but that’s the point.
It
can
be
challenging
but
that’s
the
point
This can only work when both parties are engaging in good faith. This can only work when both parties are engaging in good faith.
This
can
only
work
when
both
parties
are
engaging
in
good
faith
Arguing just to waste somebody’s time, Arguing just to waste somebody’s time,
Arguing
just
to
waste
somebody’s
time
known online as “sea lioning”, known online as “sea lioning”,
known
online
as
“sea
lioning”
not only makes you that guy or girl people avoid at parties, not only makes you that guy or girl people avoid at parties,
not
only
makes
you
that
guy
or
girl
people
avoid
at
parties
but we are intellectually, socially and politically worse off for it. but we are intellectually, socially and politically worse off for it.
but
we
are
intellectually
socially
and
politically
worse
off
for
it
It’s more important than ever It’s more important than ever
It’s
more
important
than
ever
to know where your information is coming from. to know where your information is coming from.
to
know
where
your
information
is
coming
from
That sciency-looking graph about the dangers of feral Dalmatian puppies That sciency-looking graph about the dangers of feral Dalmatian puppies
That
sciency-looking
graph
about
the
dangers
of
feral
Dalmatian
puppies
might look very convincing, until you dig a little deeper might look very convincing, until you dig a little deeper
might
look
very
convincing
until
you
dig
a
little
deeper
and find it was commissioned by fur-coat-coveting and find it was commissioned by fur-coat-coveting
and
find
it
was
commissioned
by
fur-coat-coveting
Disney villain, Cruella de Vil. Disney villain, Cruella de Vil.
Disney
villain
Cruella
de
Vil
Be on the lookout for ulterior motives and vested interests. Be on the lookout for ulterior motives and vested interests.
Be
on
the
lookout
for
ulterior
motives
and
vested
interests
Becoming literate in the basics of scientific methodology, Becoming literate in the basics of scientific methodology,
Becoming
literate
in
the
basics
of
scientific
methodology
the use of data and the way it’s presented the use of data and the way it’s presented
the
use
of
data
and
the
way
it’s
presented
are all weapons in your arsenal when it comes to critical thinking. are all weapons in your arsenal when it comes to critical thinking.
are
all
weapons
in
your
arsenal
when
it
comes
to
critical
thinking
Whether engaging in online debates or arguing with Uncle Frank, Whether engaging in online debates or arguing with Uncle Frank,
Whether
engaging
in
online
debates
or
arguing
with
Uncle
Frank
it’s very easy to lose our cool and resort to some it’s very easy to lose our cool and resort to some
it’s
very
easy
to
lose
our
cool
and
resort
to
some
less-than-sound tactics. less-than-sound tactics.
less-than-sound
tactics
One common tactic is what philosophers call, One common tactic is what philosophers call,
One
common
tactic
is
what
philosophers
call
“The Straw Man” fallacy. “The Straw Man” fallacy.
“The
Straw
Man”
fallacy
Instead of engaging with the actual belief, Instead of engaging with the actual belief,
Instead
of
engaging
with
the
actual
belief
you engage with a caricature. you engage with a caricature.
you
engage
with
a
caricature
For example, if I said, “I prefer hamsters to gerbils,” For example, if I said, “I prefer hamsters to gerbils,”
For
example
if
I
said
“I
prefer
hamsters
to
gerbils”
you might respond, “Oh, so you want to drown all gerbils?” you might respond, “Oh, so you want to drown all gerbils?”
you
might
respond
“Oh
so
you
want
to
drown
all
gerbils”
A viewpoint that’s much easier to take down. A viewpoint that’s much easier to take down.
A
viewpoint
that’s
much
easier
to
take
down
Another fallacy is the “ad hominem fallacy”, Another fallacy is the “ad hominem fallacy”,
Another
fallacy
is
the
“ad
hominem
fallacy”
where you discount an argument where you discount an argument
where
you
discount
an
argument
because of your opinion of the person making it. because of your opinion of the person making it.
because
of
your
opinion
of
the
person
making
it
This can lead to ad hominem attacks, This can lead to ad hominem attacks,
This
can
lead
to
ad
hominem
attacks
which is basically Latin for name-calling. which is basically Latin for name-calling.
which
is
basically
Latin
for
name-calling
In that situation, it’s fair to say that everybody loses. In that situation, it’s fair to say that everybody loses.
In
that
situation
it’s
fair
to
say
that
everybody
loses
Engaging in critical thinking isn’t as fun as picking up a pitchfork, Engaging in critical thinking isn’t as fun as picking up a pitchfork,
Engaging
in
critical
thinking
isn’t
as
fun
as
picking
up
a
pitchfork
or feeling like you’re fundamentally right. or feeling like you’re fundamentally right.
or
feeling
like
you’re
fundamentally
right
But in the long run, it leads to a more curious, But in the long run, it leads to a more curious,
But
in
the
long
run
it
leads
to
a
more
curious
educated and harmonious society, educated and harmonious society,
educated
and
harmonious
society
which ultimately is the biggest win of all. which ultimately is the biggest win of all.
which
ultimately
is
the
biggest
win
of
all

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