Category: Socratic Method

The Core Critical Thinking Skills Necessary For Independent Thought

2/14/2021

I was recently interviewed by Brittany Polat about the core critical thinking skills necessary for independent thought on her website, Living In Agreement, and how Stoicism can help us to think more clearly about the world.

We discuss logic, being slow to form opinions, having standards of evidence, separating truth from falsehood, being able to accurately evaluate other people's arguments, being open-minded, not being afraid to be wrong, changing your mind in light of better information, thinking with a degree of detachment, (rather than from a dogmatic or emotionally driven mindset) and a knowledge of cognitive bias and group dynamics.

Is there any group in which you automatically agree with all the opinions of the group? Are you in any group which views the “opposing” groups as evil, stupid, or weak? If so, some examination of your beliefs is probably in order. I suggest several ways to dig deeper and to think more independently throughout the course of this interview.

Books and resources to learn more about critical thinking:
https://www.commonsenseethics.com/blo...
The Well-Trained Mind book I mention: https://amzn.to/3jLpAHq *affiliate link http://www.triviumeducation.com/study...

Support the channel to see even more videos like this:
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What is the Purpose of Government?

8/29/2020

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What is the purpose of government? We all can define the purpose of medicine or of car repair and so forth, but with government, the purpose is undefined.

We wouldn't tolerate our doctor or mechanic talking to us in the way politicians do - never addressing the details of the problem, running away or becoming hostile when difficult questions are asked. So why do we tolerate it in politics?

This discrepancy indicates that we haven't defined the purpose of government well enough, which is the focus of this Socratic dialog.

Support the channel: https://ko-fi.com/commonsenseethics

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How to Change Your Mind

7/3/2020

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The Socratic Method is a way of thinking which helps you to become more open-minded and less afraid of being wrong. Socrates felt that we are more ignorant than not, so to achieve excellence, we can’t be satisfied with what we already know, we should keep striving to gain knowledge and get closer to the truth.

Changing your mind is more Socratic than dogmatically clinging to your beliefs throughout life. But it's not always easy to do, and that is what I discuss with my guest Justin Vacula.

We cover the important point that free speech - even controversial free speech - is essential for true critical thinking and for Socratic Dialog and therefore must be protected. Without free speech, we have what happened to Socrates himself - he was imprisoned for speaking freely and committed suicide. Human knowledge cannot be advanced without open discourse, without which, we remain in ignorance.

Support the channel to see even more videos like this: https://ko-fi.com/commonsenseethics

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How to Do Socratic Dialog: What Is Justice?

5/25/2020

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Socratic Dialog (also called the Socratic Method) is a way of working together to discover the truth and test whether your ideas or opinions are sound. The Socratic Method is also a way of thinking which helps you to become more open-minded and less afraid of being wrong.

In this video my guest, Max Maxwell, explains Socratic Dialog and demonstrates how to engage in Socratic conversations with an open mind as we discuss justice and the purpose of government.

The Socratic Method is especially important today since political discussions are often so polarized, and people tend to act in a less than charitable way when discussing issues that they disagree on.

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Why Ask Questions?

8/28/2019

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August 2019 marks Common Sense Ethics' 6th birthday! In honor of the blog turning 6, I will be launching a Socratic Dialog on the ideal government on my YouTube channel some time in the coming months.

Today's guest post about Socrates is contributed by my friend Winton Bates. Winton has a background in economics. He writes about the good society, psychology, philosophy, and other topics at his website Freedom and Flourishing:

When I started blogging, about a decade ago, I decided that the title of each article would be a question. As I saw it, the response to each question would lead to further questions. It also prompts me to reconsider whether I am answering the right question.

I have found it is not easy to ask questions that get to the heart of an issue if you don’t know much about it. I have often revised questions in the middle of writing an article as I have learned more about the subject matter.

A friend made the comment that the approach I had adopted on my blog was somewhat Socratic. I doubted whether that was so, but I knew little about Socrates. I decided that it was time I learned more about him.

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How to Get Rid of the Need to Be Right

1/29/2018

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In a frenzy of excitement over the December release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi (yes, I'm a nerd like that), I have been reading a lot of interviews and criticism of the film. This interview really got me thinking. Adam Driver (the actor who plays villain Kylo Ren) states: "In a lot of ways I don't really feel...as connected to my generation...I feel like there's need for discipline and not having a right answer and not having immediate access to everything." [Emphasis mine.]

Not having a right answer? Do Millennials really think that we are always right and that we know everything? Is this trait exclusive to the younger generations, or something common to humanity in general? Is being a know-it-all the result of being college educated? Propagandized? Am I guilty of this too? (Yes I must be...look at what I write about!)

Always thinking that you are right is a fault to be sure. It annoys others, inhibits curiosity and promotes myopia. If you think you already know something, then you are less likely to seek more information or to think critically, especially about your entrenched belief systems. So is there any way to avoid this personality flaw of know-it-all syndrome? What qualities can we cultivate in ourselves to combat always needing to have the right answer?

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