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Develop Your Brain

Critical Thinking or To Reason

Critical thinking is the mental process of analyzing or evaluating information. 'To reason' is the capacity for rational thought, or to think logically. Once you have established a solid foundation or a healthy self-concept, it is important to be able to think critically, or to reason. Everyone thinks; however, much of our thinking is reactive, biased, uninformed and often prejudiced. More often than not, it is also haphazard and undisciplined. Why do we need to think critically? In order to assess our role in, and the consequences of any actions we take, we must be able to evaluate and determine what is taking place in a given situation. This requires us to organize our thinking, integrate the information at hand, distinguish between what is fact and what is opinion, and then weigh potential outcomes. By thinking critically, instead of reacting emotionally to a problem, we employ strategies which: Help us learn from an experience Help prevent it from occurring again Result in a reasonable, effective solution The quality of life we experience is in direct proportion to the quality of our thinking. Critical thinking is self-disciplined, self-monitored and problem solving thinking. It promotes openmindedness, putting things in perspective, and a positive attitude. When we don't reason or think critically we subject ourselves to fleeting, erratic or unpredictable emotions. Of course, this does not mean we should deny or suppress our emotions, for indeed, they are a vital and significant element of who we are. Instead, we must learn how to make them work for us, not against us. Critical thinking helps us balance our emotions, which in turn leads to good judgment and making informed, good decisions. For the most part, critical thinking does not come naturally. It takes effort, training and practice. As A. E. Mander wrote in his book Logic For the Millions: "Thinking is skilled work. It is not true that we are naturally endowed with the ability to think clearly and logically - without learning how, or without practicing. People with untrained minds should no more expect to think clearly and logically than people who have never learned and never practiced can expect to find themselves good carpenters, golfers, bridge players, or pianists."

Tips On Improving Critical Thinking

Play strategy games, Sudoku and solve crossword puzzles. Read more. Reading improves focus, imagination and vocabulary which results in heightened thinking skills. Engage in healthy debates in class or with your friends. Argue both sides of an argument. As Edward De Bono, the lateral thinking psychologist suggests, use the GBI technique, in which you list the good, bad and interesting points of a position. Look at a problem from as many viewpoints as possible.

How To Think Critically and Problem Solve

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The quote on the right by Jean De La Bruyere may seem a bit radical; however, according to the premise of cognitive psychology, what you think is what you feel. While many people believe that your feelings precede, or are independent of your thoughts, the truth is that your feelings are products of your thoughts. This revelation can be both daunting and liberating. Daunting because it makes us responsible for our attitudes and liberating because we have the power to choose our perspective, mood and thoughts. When we are aware that we can choose and direct our thinking, we realize that we have the ability to better control the circumstances of our lives, improve our decisionmaking processes and generally live more productive lives. This in no way suggests that we need downplay the many feelings and emotions we as humans enjoy, it's a simply a way for us to manage and balance them with our cognitive abilities.

We are thinking critically and in a problem solving mindset when we:

Rely on reason rather than emotion Evaluate a broad range of viewpoints and perspectives Maintain an open mind to alternative interpretations Accept new evidence, explanations and findings Are willing to reassess information Can put aside personal prejudices and biases Consider all reasonable possibilities Avoid hasty judgments Like any other skill, learning to think critically or problem-solve takes time, perseverance and practice. Knowing which steps to take and how to apply those helps us master the process.

Steps to Critical Thinking As It Relates To Problem Solving:

1. Identify the Problem. The first task is to determine if a problem exists. Sometimes when you think this point through, you may come to the conclusion that there really isn't a problem, just a misunderstanding. If that's the case, fine. If not, and you determine that there is indeed a problem; you need to identify exactly what it is. According to Barry Lubetkin, a New York clinical psychologist, how systematically someone weighs the pros and cons of a problem and how clearly the person can define and state it, is also an indication of highly developed intelligence. 2. Analyze the problem, look at it from different angles. Once you've determined the problem, analyze it by looking at it from a variety of perspectives. Is it solvable? Is it real or perceived? Can you solve it alone or do you need help? Sometimes by looking at it from many angles you can come up with a resolution right away. You may also reveal a bias or narrow point of view that needs to be broadened 3. Brainstorm and come up with a several possible solutions. Problems can be solved in many ways. Brainstorm a list of several possible solutions. Put down anything that comes to mind and then go over the list and narrow it down to the best possibilities. Having several viable options leads to obtaining the best results. 4. Decide which solution fits the situation best. Go over your list of possible solutions. Different situations call for different solutions. Quite often what works in one situation, may not work in a similar one. Take time to determine what will work best for the problem at hand. One solution usually does not fit all. 5. Take action. Implement your solution. Every problem has a solution; even if it may be to accept the

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Develop Your Brain

situation, and move on.Instead of approaching problems and challenges as insurmountable obstacles, we can view them as opportunities to hone our critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Every problem we are able to resolve increases self-confidence and self-worth. Thinking critically not only helps us handle future challenges more skillfully, it also broadens our life experience and helps us gain perspective.

How to Think for Yourself

Do you think for yourself? In these times of fast media and ever-growing Internet we are under so many external influences that it can be difficult to know when we are thinking for ourselves. Unless you are a discerning, very aware person, you most likely don't even know when your thinking is not your own. Not that all outside influence is bad or detrimental to forming your own views, but being unable to think for yourself can make you miserable at best, or a puppet of someone else's programming, at worst. Admittedly, we are all born into societies or cultures where the norms and customs are already established. We have little choice but to conform to a large degree to what is already in place. This is not necessarily a bad thing, however, it can be confining and controlling if we accept everything blindly and never question the status quo. Does this mean all of your ideas can be original and unlike everyone else's? Not at all! Nor does it require being contrary and argumentative just to be defiant or stand out. To think for yourself means that whatever opinions you hold will be well thought out and come from a position of thorough investigation and thoughtful analysis. It means choosing to not compromise the facts for the sake of consensus or fitting in. It is not unlike critical thinking - it just encompasses a broader scope of choices and decision-making in your life. As an example, how many of us feel the need to keep up with 'the latest'? We wear clothes, listen to music and follow trends that the media tells us we should in order to be cool. Marketing companies create ads that hypnotize us into a herd mentality as we fall into debt, wear fashions that are unbecoming, and get caught up in a cycle of over-spending, over-consuming and then stressing out over it. Before we realize it, we are living lives designed for us by the powers that be and without our conscious participation. Another trap we fall into when we don't think for ourselves is groupthink. Groupthink, a term coined by Irving Janis in 1972, is a psychological phenomenon that takes place within a group of people who try to avoid conflict and reach agreement without critically evaluating options or alternative ideas. The problem with groupthink is that it hinders finding the best solutions, impedes creative ideas and thwarts independent thinking. Wanting to be part of the crowd can certainly have its drawbacks! So how can you cultivate the ability to think for yourself?

Tips on how to think for yourself:

Develop a strong sense of self. Know who you are, what you want and what is best for you. Do not let others, especially marketing companies and the media, tell you how you should look, feel and act. Do what is best for you. Cultivate your own tastes and enjoy your preferences. Be well-informed. Gather as much information about a subject as possible before forming an opinion. Build your mental resources by reading, observing, and listening for yourself. Then take time to reflect and evaluate.

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Be flexible. Look for solutions and outcomes to a situation from as many perspectives as you can. Determine the pros and cons. Are there other possibilities? Whom might it harm/benefit? What are the potential consequences? Identify possible biases. Are you being unduly influenced by your culture, upbringing or other people's opinions? Are you being fair and open-minded? Many times we make poor decisions because we begin with the wrong premise. If we take time to evaluate and judge based upon what we observe first hand rather than what we've been lead to believe, we can arrive at a more appropriate and practical conclusion. Do not buckle under pressure, fear, or guilt. Have the courage to stand up for what you really believe and have deduced yourself. If you go along with the crowd for the sake of keeping peace, avoiding confrontation, or fear of failure, you do everyone a disservice, especially yourself. You may have a brilliant idea, or maybe it happens to be the right thing to do. If no one hears about it, a healthy discussion cannot take place and all possibilities will not be considered. A good idea has the potential to evolve into a better one with input from a variety of sources.

The benefits of thinking for yourself:

You develop self-confidence and trust in your abilities You attain a greater sense of accomplishment You expand your mind and boost your brain power You gain respect from others by standing up for what you believe in and by being original You are more aware and alert to what the media is trying to sell you You are more open to self-improvement and alternative viewpoints You are more interesting to others by expanding their thinking and options

You are NOT thinking for yourself when:

You let others, the media, or convention sway you from doing what's right for you You buy into negative, one-dimensional stereotypes based on sex, race or culture You do something because it has always been done that way - even if it no longer works You follow old wives' tales, superstitions or fallacies that defy common sense You don't take time to think things through carefully and fully As you may have already concluded, thinking for yourself is not easy. It requires deliberate, mindful and at times courageous application, however the personal rewards are endlessly gratifying.

Philosophy and Personal Development

Those who have not taken the time to explore the wonderful world of philosophy may consider it as having very little practical value or benefit in the real world. Nothing could be further from the truth. The word philosophy is derived from the Greek words "philo" meaning love and "sophia" meaning wisdom. Therefore it is the love of wisdom and the seeking of knowledge in understanding the nature of the universe, man, and the human condition. What could be more relevant? How does philosophy contribute to personal development? Studying philosophy and the works of some of the greatest thinkers in the history of the world is invaluable in helping us determine who we are and what we are doing here. Contemplating what the great philosophers have found to be meaningful and worthy assists us in establishing our own views on life, our purpose, and our values.

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William Ralph Inge said: "The object of studying philosophy is to know one's own mind, not other people's". More than just a pursuit of knowledge, philosophy is also an activity; one that teaches us to analyze, assess and reason. It is an instrument for acquiring and honing critical thinking and problem solving skills. Anyone pursuing a career in law is required to take courses in philosophy for the purposes of cultivating logical and methodical thinking. If it were not for philosophy and logic, knowledge about ourselves and the world we live in would be very limited.

Philosopher's Corner
Each month this section will feature a philosopher from a different period in history and his contributions to Western thought. Enjoy the information and allow it to expand your thinking and viewpoint.

This Month's Philosopher

Michel Foucault (1926-1984)
Paul-Michel Foucault was a philosopher and social theorist born on October 15, 1926 in Poitiers, France. His father Paul-Andr Foucault was a prominent surgeon, while his mother Anne, the daughter of a surgeon longed to pursue a medical career; however, for practical purposes was not able to. While Foucault excelled at philosophy and intended to pursue an academic career, his father insisted that he follow the medical profession like the rest of his family. Foucault, however, rebelled and went so far as to drop the 'Paul' from his name to merely Michel. In 1945 Foucault moved to Paris just after the end of the war to take the entrance examinations for the prestigious institution of humanities the cole Normale Suprieure d'Ulm. He then entered in 1946 whereupon he was taught by Jean Hyppolite (the French Hegelian), Maurice Merleau-Ponty and mentored by Louis Althusser. Foucault's studies were primarily in philosophy, but he also obtained qualifications in psychology. During his years at the cole Normale, Foucault struggled with depression and an attempted suicide due to difficulty in coming to terms with his homosexuality. Michel Foucault is considered the founder of a new French tradition in philosophy known as 'postmodernism', which puts the emphasis in philosophy on the subject of experience as positioned in an external world. With the arrival of 'the linguistic turn' the emphasis was on the meanings of concepts rather than the impact that concepts have had upon the world. Foucault was most concerned with the historical retrospective or 'archeology' aspect of this point. His most important works in this regard include: Madness and Civilization, Discipline and Punish: the birth of the prison and The History of Sexuality. Foucault's works, in turn, take French philosophy on a new course in the latter part of the 20th century. The theme that underlies all of his work is the relationship between power and knowledge. To show how power and knowledge interact to produce the human subject, or the self, he drew upon the disciplines of philosophy, history, psychology and sociology. He intended to show that human beings are constituted as knowing, knowable
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and self-knowing subjects in relations of power and discourse. For this he needed to rethink the concept of power and analyze the connection between power and knowledge. Foucault claimed that modern western societies are characterized by three modes of objectification which constitute human beings as subjects. These modes are: dividing practices, scientific classification and subjectification. Dividing practices objectify people by differentiating and separating them from their fellow human beings by categorizing them as normal and abnormal, sane and insane, the permitted and the forbidden. These categories provide humans identities by which they recognize themselves and allow other to recognize them. As exemplified in Madness and Civilization, Foucault analyzed the means by which madness was established as a category of human behavior and one which legitimized the detention of individuals in institutions. He also showed how the emergence of the human sciences in the late 19th century led to the human body being treated as an 'object' to be analyzed, labeled and cured. This is still characteristic in modern medicine today and in this regard power is used to define knowledge. According to Foucault, what authorities claim as 'scientific knowledge' is just the means for social control. As an example, he points out how the eighteenth century 'madness' was used to categorize and stigmatize not only the mentally ill but the poor, the sick, the homeless and anyone whose expressions of individuality were unacceptable. For Foucault objectifying the human subject corresponds to historical changes in the nature of power and to developments in human and scientific knowledge. His intent, however, was to highlight how what we consider to be knowledge and the concepts through which we understand ourselves, such as 'reason', 'normality' and 'sexuality' are conditional, variable and ahistorical. In other words, they do not evolve along a 'path of progress' or represent an ongoing development, instead they change in response to the desire of authority to control and regulate the behavior of the individual. Foucault's thought and work endeavored to show us how we must strive to build social structures that lessen the tendency for domination and to re-examine what we think we know about the effect that knowledge has on our lives. Foucault lived his life as if driven by the desire to transcend both physical and cultural limitations.

The Elements of A Productive Mindset

What is a productive mindset? A productive mindset is one that makes the best use of your resources - your time, your energy and your efforts. It is not trying to do everything and be everything, or even doing it in the quickest way possible. It is making the most and best of what you have while enjoying the process. In order to make the most of who we are and what we have, there are certain qualities or characteristics that assist us in accomplishing that end. Here are some of the elements of a productive mindset: Curiosity - The willingness to seek, question, and find answers for new and better ways of doing something.

Desire or Motivation - Cultivate desire. Without desire or motivation there is nothing to drive us to progress and improve. Inertia is the opposite of desire and a destroyer of progress. Vision - To be able to visualize what you want helps you focus on it and gives you an idea of what the outcome would look like. Without that picture in your mind, it would be more difficult to strive for a goal. We've all read how men of 'great vision' have been able to accomplish the seemingly impossible.

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Critical Thinking - Acquire the ability to assess a situation in an objective manner or to see it how it really is. Look at the pros and cons and be willing to make the appropriate adjustments. Self-confidence - The faith and belief that you are fully capable and can do what you set out to. Without self-confidence and faith you cannot reach your full potential. Persistence - Most things do not come easily. Be willing to overcome obstacles and adversity. Challenge yourself and persist in order to reach your goals. Do not let circumstances, the opinions of others, or setbacks, thwart your determination to succeed. Positive attitude or outlook - Your attitude, be it positive or negative, can make, or break, you. Possessing a positive attitude allows for any possibility, while a negative one defeats you before you can even start. Open-mindedness - There is nothing like an open-mind for generating new and innovative ideas. You become receptive to groundbreaking experiences when you are flexible and open-minded.

Balance - Ultimately, to function well and get the most from life, we must maintain balance. Working towards goals is important, but we must also take time to rejuvenate and recharge. Doing too much, or pushing too hard on any one thing, can lead to burnout and frustration. By integrating the above elements into our though processes, we not only cultivate a productive mindset, we set ourselves up for reaching our goals more effectively, develop positive habits and we sharpen our minds to function at high levels.

Written & edited by: Tanbir Rahman; Email: tanbirrahman@live.com; Mobile: 01675464743