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Old 09-19-2006, 01:23 PM   #1
coberst
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Default CT is 'philosophy light'

I once asked a philosophy professor “What is philosophy about?” He said philosophy is “radically critical self-consciousness”. This was 35 years ago. Only in the last five years have I begun to understand that statement

I took a number of courses in philosophy three decades ago but it was not until I began to study and understand Critical Thinking that I began to understand what “radically critical self-consciousness” meant.

I consider CT to be ‘philosophy light’. CT differs from other subject matter such as mathematics and geography in that it requires, for success, that the student develop a significant change in attitude.

Anyone who has been in military service recognizes the significant attitude adjustment introduced into all recruits in the eight weeks of boot camp. During the first eight weeks of military service each recruit is introduced to the proper military attitude. During the eight weeks of basic training there is certain knowledge and skills that the recruit learns but primarily s/he undergoes a significant attitude adjustment.

I would identify the CT attitude adjustment to be a movement from naïve common sense realism to critical self-consciousness. It is necessary to free many words and concepts from the limited meaning attached by normal usage—such a separation requires that the learner hold in abeyance the normal sort of concept associations.

The individual who has made the attitude adjustment recognizes that reality is multilayered and that one can only penetrate those layers through a critical attitude toward both the self and the world. To be critical does not mean to be negative, as is a common misunderstanding.

If we were to follow the cat and the turtle as they make their way through the forest we would observe two fundamentally different ways that a creature might make its way through life.

The turtle withdraws into its shell when it bumps into something new, and remains such until that something new disappears or remains long enough to become familiar to the turtle. The cat is conscious of almost everything within the range of its senses, and studies all it perceives until its curiosity is satisfied.

Formal education teaches by telling so that the graduate is prepared with a sufficient database to get a job. Such an education efficiently prepares one to make a living, but this efficiency is at the cost of curiosity and imagination. Such an education does not prepare an individual to become critically self-conscious.

If we wish to emulate the cat rather than the turtle we must revitalize our curiosity and imagination after formal education. That revitalized curiosity and imagination, together with self directed study prepares each of us for a fulfilling life that includes the ecstasy of understanding.

I think that radically critical self-consciousness combines the attitude adjustment of CT and combines it with the curiosity of the cat and then takes that combination to a radical level.

A good place to begin CT is: http://www.bu.edu/wcp/Papers/Educ/EducHare.htm
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Old 09-19-2006, 08:39 PM   #2
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Default Re: CT is 'philosophy light'

You're telling me you're in your 50s?
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Old 09-19-2006, 08:53 PM   #3
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Default Re: CT is 'philosophy light'

And posting on FFR?

In any case, I'd say that critical thinking is a necessary tool in order to investigate philosophy properly (as well as a whole load of other things - religion, politics, psychology, sociology). It's misleading to think of it as a subject; it's a skill that should be developed and used through multiple disciplines.
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Old 09-19-2006, 09:02 PM   #4
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Default Re: CT is 'philosophy light'

And you've posted this thought out mini-essay before. On a few different boards. Interesting.
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Old 09-20-2006, 04:04 AM   #5
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Default Re: CT is 'philosophy light'

Quote:
Originally Posted by T0rajir0u View Post
And posting on FFR?

In any case, I'd say that critical thinking is a necessary tool in order to investigate philosophy properly (as well as a whole load of other things - religion, politics, psychology, sociology). It's misleading to think of it as a subject; it's a skill that should be developed and used through multiple disciplines.


Most decisions we have to make are judgment calls. A judgment call is made when we must make a decision when there is no “true” or “false” answers. When we make a judgment call our decision is bad, good, or better.

Many factors are involved: there are the available facts, assumptions, skills, knowledge, and especially personal experience and attitude. I think that the two most important elements in the mix are personal experience and attitude.

When we study math we learn how to use various algorithms to facilitate our skill in dealing with quantities. If we never studied math we could deal with quantity on a primary level but our quantifying ability would be minimal. Likewise with making judgments; if we study the art and science of good judgment we can make better decisions and if we never study the art and science of judgment our decision ability will remain minimal.

I am convinced that a fundamental problem we have in this country (USA) is that our citizens have never learned the art and science of good judgment. Before the recent introduction of CT into our schools and colleges our young people have been taught primarily what to think and not how to think. All of us graduated with insufficient comprehension of the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary for the formulation of good judgment. The result of this inability to make good judgment is evident and is dangerous.

I am primarily interested in the judgment that adults exercise in regard to public issues. Of course, any improvement in judgment generally will affect both personal and community matters.

To put the matter into a nut shell:
1. Normal men and women can significantly improve their ability to make judgments.
2. CT is the domain of knowledge that delineates the knowledge, skills, and intellectual character demanded for good judgment.
3. CT has been introduced into our schools and colleges slowly in the last two or three decades.
4. Few of today’s adults were ever taught CT.
5. I suspect that at least another two generations will pass before our society reaps significant rewards resulting from teaching CT to our children.
6. Can our democracy survive that long?
7. I think that every effort must be made to convince today’s adults that they need to study and learn CT on their own. I am not suggesting that adults find a teacher but I am suggesting that adults become self-actualizing learners.
8. I am convinced that learning the art and science of Critical Thinking is an important step toward becoming a better citizen in today’s democratic society.

Perhaps you are not familiar with CT. I first encountered the concept about five years ago. The following are a few Internet sites that will familiarize you with the matter.

http://www.freeinquiry.com/critical-notes.html

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache...&ct=clnk&cd=11

http://www.chss.montclair.edu/inquir...5/weinste.html

http://www.criticalthinking.org/reso...glossary.shtml

http://www.doit.gmu.edu/inventio/pas...g03&sID=eslava
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Old 09-20-2006, 08:53 AM   #6
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Default Re: CT is 'philosophy light'

Coberst, interesting stuff. Do you post it at other sites too, to see what people have to say?

1st post
http://forum.physorg.com/CT-(Critica...ing)_3895.html

http://forum.physorg.com/index.php?showtopic=3895

http://www.shadowsinthecave.com/foru...19a8b726da11ff

http://www.sociopranos.com/forums/th...d=1169&posts=5

http://www.forumgarden.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=12013

http://www.physicsforums.com/archive.../t-103113.html

http://www.able2know.com/forums/about76768-20.html

There are a bunch more, but I don't have time to post them all.

2nd post
http://forums.hypography.com/philoso...ment-call.html

http://www.the-brights.net/forums/fo...php?t4983.html
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Old 09-20-2006, 09:56 AM   #7
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Default Re: CT is 'philosophy light'

Specforces

I think that CT is of fundamental importance to every independent thinker. If a person has not studied it in their schooling it should be high on their list of priorities for self-actualizing self-learning.
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Old 09-20-2006, 10:36 AM   #8
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Default Re: CT is 'philosophy light'

How old are you, my good man?
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Old 09-20-2006, 12:09 PM   #9
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Default Re: CT is 'philosophy light'

Quote:
Originally Posted by coberst View Post
Specforces

I think that CT is of fundamental importance to every independent thinker. If a person has not studied it in their schooling it should be high on their list of priorities for self-actualizing self-learning.
An importance that is not stressed enough to our nation's youth. Carry on and thank you for the insight.
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Old 09-20-2006, 01:16 PM   #10
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Default Re: CT is 'philosophy light'

Quote:
Originally Posted by Specforces View Post
An importance that is not stressed enough to our nation's youth. Carry on and thank you for the insight.
That is why I point it out every chance I get. If people hear it often enough it will begin to sink in. Since you agree you might mention it every chance you get.

I think that people are like turtles. When encountering a new idea they retreat into their shell but if the idea stays around long enough they forget it is a new idea and begin to pay attention.
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