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Hello Readers, This weeks Trilogy of Thoughts will cover: Thought 1: Philosophical quote/idea: Reflecting on succinctly written philosophical ideas helps us become critical thinkers. Thought 2: A critical thinking (CT) idea discussed originally. Today’s topic: There is no Critical Thinking without Comprehension Thought 3: CT actions to implement. You must put in the work.
THOUGHT 1: A QUOTE "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."
— Aristotle Before you read my thoughts on this quote below, reflect on these words for a few minutes. Think about what they may mean and whether you yourself are able to do this yet. My thoughts: I absolutely love this idea. These cleverly placed words, tell us to engage with ideas thoughtfully, without immediately judging or dismissing them. It encourages us to explore different perspectives, which is a thrilling experience once you become excited about learning the point of view of others. Except I would have to add that these days as I talk with people about their perspectives (as long as they are reasonable to some degree), I am more than happy to accept their decisions particularly if they are confident of their reasons as to why. THOUGHT 2 TOPIC: There is no Critical Thinking without Comprehension We now live in a newly operating world. It’s the information revolution. Except the access to masses of information is causing a regress in intellectual progress and I do not see that this revolution is a better system. We are constantly bombarded with information so the ability to comprehend ideas with more fairness is more crucial than ever. We can all cultivate intelligent thinking but we need to learn how as we have not been taught the thinking skills that are needed for this new information-saturated world. Our biases will try to cloud our ability to truly comprehend new ideas. Every time we encounter new information, our past experiences, and preconceptions come into play, which will distort our understanding. To think critically, we must practice stepping back, observing information from a broader perspective, and trying to form an objective view. This is not easy but you can do it with practice. This approach helps us see ideas for what they truly are, not just what we initially think they might be. And remember the chances of you mis-comprehending are high, especially if you come from a family or background where people who you have relied on have been particularly emotionally reactive. Even those of us who have trained our thinking skills get it wrong often. We are human first. So let’s see what you can do to improve your comprehension skills and in turn your critical and intelligent thinking abilities. To start, it’s important to approach reading and listening with the goal of understanding, rather than reacting. EIGHT STEPS TO INCREASE COMPREHENSION: Read to Understand, Not React: Begin with an open mind, aiming to grasp the message before forming an opinion. This is what it means to start with an objective view. To reach a more balanced understanding, even with topics that might trigger or upset you, it’s important to recognize that your sensitivity can affect your ability to fully grasp the subject as it requires deeper awareness. Your sensitivities ARE your biases. Understand Each Word: Take your time to understand each word, ensuring you grasp its meaning. Look up definitions, synonyms, and potential uses for the word. Do not assume as this is what will throw you off! Connect the Words: Move to the next word and connect it to the previous one, building a coherent understanding as you progress. Many times our mind will see words and ideas that fit perfectly with our own internal biases. In order to avoid this we need to make sure we are slow and careful as we try to comprehend. Consider the Entire Sentence: Once you've read the full sentence, reflect on its central meaning or idea. Focus on what the message is trying to convey. Ignore spelling errors, typos, or punctuation problems (unless relevant to the central point). Concentrate on the main issue. People distract from the central issue when they do not have a logical or intelligent response or are just feeding an internal insecurity/ego. Reread with New Perspective: Reread the sentence or passage, and see if a second reading gives you a different or deeper understanding. This is vital. We always see new things the second or third time around. Time always helps us formulate a better understanding as it allows time for reflection and time for thinking. Reflect on the Meaning: Ensure you’re accurately comprehending the main message and consider any questions or uncertainties you may have. We should always have questions and uncertainties because phenomena are multi-faceted and come in different shapes and sizes. You do not need to know the answers. The best thinkers are perfectly comfortable not needing to know everything or prove that they know everything. Gaps in knowledge are fine to simply be. Apply to Prior Knowledge: Relate the idea to what you already know or your observations about the world. This helps in contextualizing new information. Connect the dots, but keep the other steps in mind. Do not make sweeping assumptions. Keep your emotions (biases in check). Approach with Good Faith: Lastly, engage with the message respectfully, trying to understand it fully rather than dismissing it prematurely. This is known as the principle of charitable interpretation and it is a very important part of intelligent thinking practice. When we are not charitable with our interpretations we are coming from a knowledge insecurity perspective. You can notice those who are aggressive towards you or others for your idea when it is uncalled for.
To deepen your comprehension skills two more steps are also suggested often by me in my classes. Make notes in margins or a notebook as you connect ideas as well as discuss and verbalize what you are thinking to clarify and order your ideas. This is important for more complex ideas. I will now give you an example of what I believe is evidence of reactiveness, a lack of comprehension skills, and the negative role our biases play. EXAMPLE Consider an example I recently saw online from Dr Adam Grant, a well-known psychologist whose credibility and expertise are widely recognized. Whether you agree with him or not, critical thinkers must approach his ideas with an open mind. Although if you fundamentally disagree and you want to be a critical thinker I would implore you to make sure you have deeply reflected on why. Also, if you dislike someone’s ideas but have never taken the time to read their work or a book they have written in long form, then your credibility is weakened. You can disagree, but make sure you know why and have a logical, well-understood, explanation. In a recent post, Grant said: “The root of chronic people pleasing is not concern for others. It’s a concern for approval. Caring drives kindness; the fear of being disliked fuels self-sacrifice. Insecure people aim to be adored by all. Secure people focus on earning the respect of those who matter most.” I want you to take some time here to really think about this idea and apply the eight steps and principles of comprehension that I outlined above before you read on. If you read on before you do this you will be influenced by the information. There was a backlash in the comment threads, with many reacting negatively. As a critical thinker, your first step should be to attempt to understand this idea. Grant’s extensive experience working with countless individuals lends weight to his observations. His books, widely read and respected, reflect coherent ideas drawn from patterns and ongoing data he has seen himself from his work with many people over the years. Even if you disagree with his statement, you can acknowledge its potential value. Remember, Instagram posts are meant to provoke thought but cannot encompass all nuances in short form. If this statement triggers a reaction, it’s an opportunity for reflection—the resistance often can stem from something internally not yet dealt with implying our biases are very active. Perhaps the people who are resistant to a very reasonable idea may be the people pleasers he speaks of and have not yet worked through this idea or thought. It may be hitting a sensitive spot. Perhaps they are people who are also not truly comprehending the idea and allowing their biases to get in the way as they attempt to convey meaning. At the very least it deserves thought reflection, and consideration. I say these are the perfect conditions for intellectual growth so, if you are ready to be intellectually brave, sit back and simply think. THOUGHT 3 Activities Practical Application: Practice Comprehension This week, try applying the step-by-step process outlined above whenever you encounter new ideas—whether online or in conversation. Focus on understanding the main message, even if it challenges your own views. Remember, the goal is to engage with ideas in a way that promotes growth and learning, rather than division. As you practice these skills, notice how your ability to comprehend and interact with information evolves. With consistent effort, you'll find yourself becoming a more thoughtful and intelligent thinker, capable of engaging and recognizing the complexities in today’s information-rich world. Stay tuned for the Sunday Synapse, which will be delivered to your inbox every Sunday! Get ready to take on a new week better than you were last week! If it does not bring value to you, just hit the unsubscribe button below. Send me an email with feedback—what you like, don’t like, want more of, or just to say hi! Until next Sunday, take care. Dr. Esha
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