Thinking, Critically

I was raised expecting to go to college. So was my sister. My brother chose another route without considering college. He did well in life and is currently marching through retirement at age 87.

Sister and I graduated from college, both small liberal arts colleges. She went on to professional development and excellent business achievement. I attempted one master’s degree program (seminary) but dropped out to pursue other career interests. Later, I pursued another master’s program and graduated with the degree. I never attempted a PhD but thought of it often. I just never committed the time or focus on it.

However, my bachelor’s and master’s degrees have served me well. They taught me to think critically. Read, grasp content, form questions on that content, pursue more reading and research, then form conclusions on fuller details. When expectations from those understandings failed in some way or another, I pursued more reading and research. My understanding of countless subjects grew. Not perfect, but more, much more.

Over time I practiced this process many times and continue to do so to this day. I label this critical thinking, but it may be more or less that depending on the content of the process. Others may have opinions on my process, but I remain with my own comfort with transitory understanding of many topics.

Encountering many issues in life, I wonder how others think through the topics. Are they thinking critically? Are they expanding their knowledge on the involved topics? Are they considering different points of view? Or are they settling with comfortable conclusions dictated by other forms of thinking and ideology? Are they contributing to the knowledge base or abusing it?

Aah! That’s a great question. So many opinions printed everywhere, especially social media. But are they true? Are they logical? Are they conforming to strict forms of critical thinking? Are their conclusions contributing to a better understanding of the facts of life? So many simply miss the mark.

This is a problem. First because it causes chaos in public discourse. Second because it leads to false conclusions that affect a lot of public policy, outcomes of elections, and just plain public civility.

For most of my long life there has been an unsubtle bias against education. I suspect this comes mainly from people who do not wish to spend the effort gaining the education, but to write it off without any deep thinking, critical or not. That is a mistake for them and the rest of us.

Life is complex. Although facts are real and researchable as to accuracy, that accuracy is not tested without critical thinking. An education helps with the process but is not required. Logical thinking is a capability belonging to all of us. However, it requires discipline and depth of thinking. That work is required. Along the way, the process educates the users quite nicely. A graduate degree in life, perhaps? Either way, it requires work and commitment.

The rewards are tangible and pleasing. It should be practiced by all of us.

August 20, 2025/

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