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Quote by: Isherwood  A major component of free thinking is to become aware of those influences. Once you become aware of them, they lose much of their power over you. For example, if I believe Bob is an expert on a particular topic and accept everything he says about it without question, I'm not thinking. Once I realize Bob may not be absolutely correct in everything he says, I become free to question his assertions. The more I question, the more information I have to base my own thinking on. Awareness and skepticism are enemies of blind acceptance.
Free thinking is not about always coming up with unique, un-thought-of-before ideas. Some very profound thinkers have lived before us. To agree with them isn't a sign of intellectual laziness as long as you have really thought about what they said and decided you can agree with it. If you just accept it without consideration or contemplation, then I'd categorize it as intellectual laziness. |
I would agree also with your response to me. Independant thinking is not about always disagreeing with everyone else ideas.
It is wise and also respectful to give each idea consideration and our best effort to comprehend what the other person is saying or writing. And not get caught up in some attitude of being a rebel or non-conformist.
Independant thinking would go hand and hand with independant listening. It is a two way street.
I would also agree with your suggestions above you response to me.
But those suggestions are for students, the beginning stages where you are learning about what all is out there as information or knowledge. And then learning how to make up your own mind about that knowledge or idea by processing it through your own ability to discern details (such as contradictions) so that you can determine if it is logical, acceptable, or useless - etc.
Consuming knowledge can be like eating food. Let it go in one ear and out the other, the good parts will stick inbetween if the mind/brain can use it. That is called digesting knowledge. When we force our self to remember something, then we are adding useless fat to our mind, which is not good for a healthy mind, effecting clear thinking.
It should be noted that our government, our religion, and the department of education ( and control freaks in general ) fear the free thinker and will appose them if they can.
See post about the military commander who was forced to resign.
Independant thinking is a step just beyond the learning processes. But not sure just how to define it correctly. Other then as "thinking for your self".