The Importance of Critical Thinking?

What is critical thinking, and why is it so important when it comes to fighting indoctrination? Plus, looking into the importance of critical thinking when it comes to the advancement of the human race?

After reading and writing, I personally think that critical thinking is the most important thing that should be taught in schools, colleges, and universities.

When there is no critical thinking, there is indoctrination. This is the difference between being taught how to think, and being taught what to think. Human history is completely rampant with senseless acts of violence, murders, and conflicts. I believe that a great many of these, perhaps the majority, could have been avoided if critical thinking was prioritized over quick judgments.

What is Critical Thinking?

Critical thinking is the process of actively and skillfully analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing information to form reasoned judgments or solve problems. It’s not just about accepting information at face value but questioning assumptions, weighing evidence, and considering alternatives to arrive at well-supported conclusions. Coined in philosophical traditions (like those of Socrates) and popularized in modern education, it’s a core skill in fields from science and law to everyday decision-making.

What is Indoctrination?

Indoctrination is the systematic process of inculcating ideas, beliefs, or ideologies into individuals or groups, often in a way that discourages critical examination or independent thought. Indoctrination typically relies on repetition, emotional appeal, authority figures, or social pressure to embed doctrines as unquestionable truths. The term originates from Latin roots meaning “to teach” but has evolved to imply a more manipulative or coercive form of instruction, commonly associated with religions, political regimes, cults, or propaganda. This is also related to brainwashing.

Progress & Evolution

The human race will not progress, evolve, and reach its potential without critical thinking. Instead, we will be disagreeing and fighting over topics which should be settled and established. Critical thinking itself should be established as a universal good. It’s hard to criticize the idea of trying to consider different sides of a story, and actually thinking about a subject before forming an opinion. However, strangely, some people seem to dislike this idea.

If we are too busy fighting each other, we may never achieve human goals in space exploration. We may never see a base on the moon or on Mars, or at least it will slow down advancements. In general, we may never reach our potential as a race in many different areas. If there is a World War 3 due to human irrationality, it could very well kill us all.   

Judgement or Thinking

I think that a large percentage of the population confuse judgement with thinking. Part of this issue is because there is so much focus on speed, and judgements are quick. Thinking properly actually requires time and effort.

Something very connected to this is that people often confuse fast judgments with intelligence. However, as already mentioned, judgement is not thinking. Having a fast mind is associated with high fluid intelligence. However, fast judgements are often heavily influenced by cognitive biases/thinking distortions, conformity, and group think.

What good is a fast judgement when that judgement is wrong? It just means that these people will be wrong faster.

I think critical thinking is so important that it could save us from extinction by our own hands.