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Welcome Readers, This thinkers community is expanding and now I have readers from every corner of the world. I can hardly fathom how quickly this has grown. With it, I feel a big sense of responsibility. This is a good thing. I am grateful that your eyes are on my words because it pushes me to hold my mind accountable. Placing ourselves voluntarily in situations where we are responsible for something meaningful is incredibly powerful for our minds to build resilience. Whatever it is, choose responsibility, it will be your best teacher. Let’s get into today’s Trio of Thoughts. Thought 1: Philosophical Quote A good quote is a profound way to encourage deep reflective critical thinking. They consolidate complex ideas into just a few short words. "There is an urgent need today for the citizens of a democracy to think well. It is not enough to have freedom of the Press and parliamentary institutions. Our difficulties are due partly to our own stupidity, partly to the exploitation of that stupidity, and partly to our own prejudices and personal desires." — (Susan Stebbing, Thinking to Some Purpose, 1939).
This quote was written in 1939. Think about the context of time. Susan Stebbing, a British philosopher, was one of the first women to become a professor of philosophy in the UK. She was a key figure in the development of analytic philosophy and is best known for her work in critical thinking and clear reasoning. In her book Thinking to Some Purpose (1939), she makes logical and critical thinking accessible but it is aimed at helping ordinary people navigate propaganda, bias, and misleading arguments. Stebbing was concerned with the misuse of language and how unclear or manipulative communication, could harm democratic societies. In our media-obsessed online societies, her ideas have serious and profound relevance to today's world. She believed empowering people with the tools to think critically was essential for promoting rational discourse. She was an OG thought leader. Thought 2 Institutions of Thought This week I will bring attention to institutes of thought that impact our minds. We need to understand how social institutes, values, and expectations influence the way we think and choose to operate in our lives. The sooner you understand this, the sooner you can move through your days and function within your unique spaces to your fullest potential. I think in today’s modern world, we are confused by the different spaces of thought, and the boundaries between them are becoming blurred. Ideas and ways of thinking suited to one space are being expected in others, leading to a breakdown in communication, understanding, and most importantly, progress. In this world, we engage different ideas for different purposes across time and space. These are our institutions of thought. I refer to them this way as ‘institution’ refers well to a body of traditions, values, and rules that form the boundaries of a particular space and place, as well as the expectation that we adhere to these parameters. Sometimes these parameters are useful, sometimes they are problematic. Living inside a society and needing to operate within it means we are exposed to many institutions of thought. Some of the institutions I personally have been strongly exposed to throughout various stages of my life are: The government of my country of birth My family of origin The government of my citizenship country Education systems Workplaces Health care system Current nuclear family Mainstream and social media Friendship circles The Indian community The ex-Yugoslavian community
The point is, that we all have many. Different institutions serve different purposes. What we need to figure out is how much influence each domain has on our minds and how we allow them to interact and influence one another. The values and rules within one may not work inside another. Some may intersect, and some may not. We are often never dealing with just one institution. Some may be very healthy, others not so much. some may have both good and bad elements. It is up to you to analyse the effects on your thinking. For example, some of us have had unhealthy family setups, and this has impacted how we view this particular institution. We are in a time where many people are distrustful of institutions and are resistant. Right now, many institutions are being questioned as they are believed to be the cause of many social problems. This makes some sense because resistance comes where there is a dominance of power. There can be no resistance without the existence of power. Resistance to some forms of institutions of thought is justified and necessary, like mainstream media, which have great self-serving powers to design their model of information delivery. However, as I have listed above, institutions are not always big, looming, bad, mind-controlling beasts. Some, like friendships and social groups or families, are more personal and provide social order, comfort, and meaning. Your analysis for each domain is unique, often personal, and always contextual. Context Always Matters…ALWAYS. Some spaces demand rational, objective thought, while others call for emotional, human-centered approaches, or some require a mix of both. For example, at the dinner table with family, a scientist or science enthusiast being overly rigid or insisting everyone aligns with the latest trends in scientific thought (which they like to do) is not only impractical but also inappropriate and quite unfair. It dismisses the diversity of human experiences and the varying stages of intellectual development people are in. This is particularly elitist behaviour. However, in a workplace discussion with colleagues, this kind of rigor and focus on scientific alignment is often expected and appropriate. Moreover, with diverse individuals coming from different institutions and spaces of thought, expecting total alignment in thinking will inevitably lead to conflict and misunderstanding. Reasons for Thought We need to ensure we understand the role of information and why we need to use it. For example, when I worked at The University, there were goals for my presence. I capitalise it this way because I think it is a huge and dominant think-tank with serious knowledge implications for our modern world. I was trained in social sciences and so I was responsible for delivering classes to future social workers, human services workers, and psychologists. The university recognised my interest in this and subsequently allowed me to complete sociology-based research, allowing me to become attuned to social issues and systemic problems. This prepared me to teach and train up-and-coming workers who also need to advocate for these issues. It’s a perfect scenario—my role, interests, and knowledge ensure they are equipped and ready for the responsibilities of their future jobs. I am obedient to the requirements of the institution and so are the students. The same principle applies across disciplines, sectors, and social spaces that all of you are part of. Parents from all cultures are raising their children within their homes according to their own values and perspectives. The family, as an institution, aims to create a person who adheres to its values to become a capable individual able to thrive in the society immediately relevant. However in a diverse society with such diverse values and cultures, planning for what that local society may look like is becoming difficult. Professionals in different fields are shaped by the unique demands and expectations of their environments. A scientist in the lab adheres to scientific thought, while a teacher in the classroom ensures they are pedagogically aligned for the task. Each person is constantly balancing these expectations across every space they belong to. The problem arises in the modern world when all these diverse people, shaped by vastly different spaces of thought, attempt to meet in the same place. This has led to the expectation of a single institution of thought governing all people at all times. What we see is that we are witnessing a dominance of thought required to be applied across all domains of society. Not only is this implausible, but it is impossible. Building Confidence in Thought We must go back to building confidence in the reasons for our thoughts. It’s important to first consider the diverse spaces and places where we think and what we need to focus on within those spaces. For example, at work, ask yourself: What is the purpose of your job? What is the purpose of your thinking in this space? What will help you perform your role most effectively? At home, you need to ask similar questions. In your friendships, the same applies. Each space requires consideration of the purpose and focus of your thinking. This is often organic, as the culture of the environment often determines behaviour. Understanding this adaptability is key. It reminds us that critical thinking is not about being right in every context but about recognising what kind of thinking is most effective and appropriate for the space you are in. Whether you are solving a scientific problem, addressing a workplace challenge, or engaging in a personal relationship, critical thinking allows you to engage purposefully with the unique needs of that moment. Critical Thinking Education I know how to use critical thinking (CT) because The University taught me how to. At the time, my goal was to produce socially informed students who could teach others about the socially constructed factors contributing to our experiences. Outside the institution, I can teach CT in a much broader sense as an academically trained thinker. I only began practicing this broader CT when I left the institution and started working independently. I’ve done my most powerful and innovative multi-lens CT since leaving. For example, I make sure I have created my own parameters for my thoughts: my family, local friendships, my children’s school community, and the knowledge-sharing work I do, the writing I engage in. I adhere to the rules within these spaces as well as question some of them and I move and adjust as need be. My aim: to make sure I maintain order as well as benefit from each space in the way that matters. The Good as well as the Bad In this week’s letter, I remind you that institutions of thought have both good and bad elements as well as overlaps, but are an inherent part of our existence. Without parameters, thinking becomes chaotic and unrestrained. With too many parameters, thinking becomes narrower. Thought 3 CT Activity for this Week Think about the institutions of thought you are part of. Which ones hold the most influence over your thinking? Which ones historically greatly influenced your thinking? Does one institution of thought clash with another? If so, how do you manage the requirements of both if they both serve valuable purposes? Is one a problem? Why? How do you attend to this problem?
That’s it from me for today! Send me an email if you have any comments, ideas, epiphanies, stories, or feedback, or please just send mail to say hello as I love to hear that you are out there! Please note that I am now receiving a large volume of emails and messages. While I may not always be able to reply to each one due to the time it takes and my workload, please know how important they are to me. Your messages keep me motivated, and your words are wonderful—they give me insight into what you’re thinking and inspire new ideas. So please, don’t stop! Until next week… Esha. Readings Hoefer, R. - Institutionalism as a Theory for Understanding Policy Creation: An Underused Resource (2022) Susan Stebbing - Thinking to Some Purpose (1939)
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