Critical Thinking

  What why who where and how to develop the skill of critical thinking or thought

  The limits of critical thinking are at the mercy of previously accumulated knowledge and the depth of understanding associated with each separate data point and all linkages to it.

   The things called generalities are not in reality generalities at all, but are refection’s as the summation of accumulated knowledge and understanding minus the linkages to many other areas of knowledge. If one was to include all possible linkages the book that would come forth would be near infinite for a student of life.

   To a less knowledgeable person that hears a generality many points or questions arise to wit many other linkages also arise. In what we call a reasonable conversation time and space should force the conversation to stay on the primary topic at hand leaving other questions or inquiry to a later time or personal investigative research in time beyond the conversation at hand. This applies to points of controversy in particular which for the most part deflect from the primary topic at hand unless for legitimate points of inquiry on topic.

   Children shut down conversation by simply asking how do you know that or where did you get that from, which is nothing more than a distraction from what is being said. If you try to tell them, you soon find out that they really didn’t want to know where or how but they can now, and will accuse you of lecturing them. As adults; many perfect this technique of avoidance by saying things like prove it or show me the facts etc. so as to remain in the ignorant status of their own mindsets. Some will say oh then you think this or that, or oh you must be a Jesus freak etc in plain language tell you what you think or gross misrepresentation of same.

   In normal and reasonable conversation between people how, where or prove something is short for I don’t believe or think so, so end the conversation they have no interest in what you think regardless. When others say things you don’t agree with don’t attack their veracity make a mental note and check or research it for yourself to establish truth of fact but when you do don’t just accept one source, but many diversified sources.

   In books as well as persons you have, books of truth of fact or what we classify as non-fiction. Then you have fiction followed by novels which are the most mentally distorting of all because most novels take points of fact and dress them up in journalistic fashion to create a story of fiction peppered with elements of truth using the imaginary skill of a fiction writer. The overall context and or summary of novels are generally fictional. The last type of book or person is what can only be called the lying deceitful kind to intentionally distort history and events are the most modern kind. This type should be viewed with nothing short of contempt.

GAP