I mean, we all hear about people thinking what they think only because the people around them think it too. So how do you avoid doing that?
I go on reddit and read the comments
But don’t consider that maybe the migrants really are the biggest problem just because so many others are convinced.
I got old and bitter and now no longer feel impacted by the people around me. It feels quite freeing to finally be myself in any situation.
I think that isolating oneself in a cave might be best.
Imagine an illusion, the matrix, built not of scifi machinery but of habit, maintained by the presence of others.
Get alone and the habits dissolve. And then the invisible becomes visible.
My therapist likes to remind me that life has to be a balance. New experiences with people, and quiet time to reflect. You can’t lean too heavily into either extreme without harm.
There is no such thing a “independent thinking” our thoughts are given form by language and vocabulary. The only independent thinker would be someone completely alienated from society at large.
our thoughts are given form by language and vocabulary
And our experiences, and our intelligence, too. Right?
Which makes the challenge one of navigating that mess.
You reminded me of something I think no one has mentioned yet:
In philosophy and rhetoric, the principle of charity or charitable interpretation requires interpreting a speaker’s statements in the most rational way possible and, in the case of any argument, considering its best, strongest possible interpretation. In its narrowest sense, the goal of this methodological principle is to avoid attributing irrationality, logical fallacies, or falsehoods to the others’ statements, when a coherent, rational interpretation of the statements is available.
From: Principle of charity.
Applying this, I think we can interpret the *independent thinking" not as thinking without conditioning factors but as what is known as “critical thinking”.
There is the theory that we feel emotions first and then we think only to justify the emotion.
This would imply that it isn’t the thinking that needs to be managed but the emotions.
We’re human beings, not machines. Emotions are good, actually.
Emotions aren’t good (or bad). They’re often like a heuristic. Fast but inaccurate. This is great when it’s like “a bear wandered into the house” and emotions say “RUN” and cold logic would be like “what? Why? How?” until you get mauled. It’s not good when it’s like “climate change makes me feel bad so I don’t believe in it”
heuristic
That’s a very fancy word, and I’m sure you’re proud of using it.
Now can you tell me how this word has importance in your everyday life?
It comes up in software development sometimes, which is my day to day. It also is useful for any “fast but inaccurate approach” scenario, which comes up sometimes.
I wouldn’t say I’m proud of using it. It was already in my lexicon. (So was “lexicon”)
Here’s an article about them https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-heuristic-2795235
Why do you ask?
Although some feelings are malleable through thinking, but yeah, others come from (and can only be worked by) different places (including the health of our body).
Your default should be try to disprove, or at least verify any claims.
And surround yourself with good people.
I’ve spoken to a lot of people who can’t think independently and I can’t figure out what’s wrong with them tbh. I understand it on paper. Cognitive dissonance, emotive narratives re-enforced by echo chambers that have blinded them. But how do you deny basic facts when they’re explained to you 1 on 1. I used to think they were lying but it’s clear to me now most aren’t.
Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort people experience when holding conflicting cognitions. It is a signal that our thinking doesn’t make sense and we need to change something to make that feeling go away. It is not hypocrisy or having contradictory thoughts. It’s a feeling we all experience. IMO exploring our cognitive dissonance is a useful way to better critical thinking. The people you are talking about are probably not experiencing cognitive dissonance as they have long since rationlised it away.
Yes but it’s still there when I reintroduce some rational. I can see the anger emerge as I get closer to hitting their internal contradictions. Mike Pence and his words on what happened on Jan6 is an easy shortcut to constitution-loving patriots who didn’t have an issue with the coup.
This is what helps me with that:
- A healthy amount of Scepticism is always good.
- Fact check any new information by yourself and make your own conclusion.
- Discuss your ideas with others and make questions (just like you are doing right now).
- Be open to be corrected if you’re wrong in something.
- NEVER assume you know everything you need to know about anything.
Pay attention to when people tell you what to think and be extra suspicious of that kind of behavior. Question everything. Trust but verify.
Now don’t fall into the trap of just being a contrarian. Just because everyone is telling you the same thing doesn’t mean it’s ALWAYS some big conspiracy. It could actually just be the right thing.
Basically just be curious and don’t form opinions purely based off people you look up to or admire.
You can’t.
Find a topic in the news, try to read up both sides of an argument, then pick which side makes most sense.
When both sides are full of professional liars, that won’t work.
We might have to settle for not knowing.
I would recommend reading up on historical and dialectical materialism. It isn’t called the immortal science for nothing.
True. I was assuming it was a situation where you could find reliable sources. Bit thick there really.
Not sure. What do you guys think?
Read books, it’s the poor people version of traveling to broaden your mind. Sometimes even more effective since some things cannot be experienced irl. They don’t need to be recent, the old classics are good. Think about the moral/ethics/philosophies you want to live your life on, then you can interpretate events according to those.
By constantly asking “why”. Certainly, by asking why something is popular and ponder that for as long as needed until you come to a reasonable conclusion.
You may never conclude why some things are the way they are but by keeping this in mind, you’ll pick up the habit of thinking independently.
Actually, one of the things I’m always wondering is how I became an independent thinker. I have a hard time understanding how so many people are so gullible and what I can do to help them.
I can’t help by attributing my independent thinking to being somewhat isolated and poor as a child. I’m self sufficient and reject most things that are popular.
I also worked in advertising as a graphic artist for a few years. It became apparent that I am not cut out for thinking like everyone else. Advertising still annoys the heck out of me.
I’m always wondering is how I became an independent thinker. I have a hard time understanding how so many people are so gullible
You may not think this way, but I’ll comment just in case: Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you are too smart to fall for a lie. The smartest people in the world have blind spots, and only the blind think they have none.
You’re absolutely right. It can be difficult navigating this world, even with best intentions and sharpest of minds.
By being autistic
That’s the best way
