Sunday, September 26, 2010
Can critical thinking lead to over confidence?
Critical thinking makes us think analytically about everything around us, it makes us think about us and see if we our at our best but what we we start believing we are good enough but we aren't and then it directs us to over confidence. Can that happen?
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Asad,
ReplyDeleteVery good, practical question. And so very culturally relevant to Pakistan as well.
Indeed the ability to think critically can generate complacency, grandiosity & arrogance. That's why our model of critical thinking stresses embodiment of "intellectual traits" that are necessary for "strong sensed" critical thinking dispositions, or ontology (way of being).
"Humility" & "empathy" are core requirements of being a responsible & "fair-minded" critical thinker. The commitment to lifelong learning and cultivation of a CT disposition is another important aspect of being a critical thinker. Note that, conversely, we do not subscribe to obsequious and patronizing behaviors either. We are balance seekers.
We will cover the aspects of "traits" after we are done with "standards" this & next week.
Regards,
Faheem
Another thing Asad: You said: "Ct makes us ...It does this..."
ReplyDeleteBy itself CT does not do anything. "You" are the one doing the CT. Therefore you have the control.
Regards,
Faheem
In reference to the question that Asad has put forward, i felt the urge to ask that even though, it is "us" who are doing the c.t, but while thinking critically how can control their thoughts and know that they are indulging in over confidence? I mean, how can one know that when they are crossing the boundary of confidence to over confidence?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete@Nida
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean by "they"? It's your thoughts? You have the ability to have control on / over your thoughts. For that to happen, you have to take ownership & be accountable for what you feel, think, say & do.
Regards
Faheem
I think over-confidence is a very common trait in humans. And ofcourse if one knows that he has more knowledge or an extra skill that someone else may not have.. It usually does lead to overconfidence. We experience this in our everyday life.
ReplyDeleteAnd Sir, if along with having mastered the skill of "Critical Thinking" one even has to have Humility and empathy, then is it not that we are looking for a "perfect" human being? But then we even agree that no one is perfect in this world. So where should one draw the line?
Khizra,
ReplyDeleteYou've inadvertently highlighted an issue which in CT we call "My-side bias": Not everyone seeks the same truth or goals as you. Seeking perfection is not a foregone conclusion for all people. It's certainly also NOT a requirement / or criterion for CT's. Mastering the skills, abilities & dispositions / attitudes of a master CT is a lifelong endeavor, challenge & process; the buck does not stop anywhere. The implicit wisdom of being a mature & master CT is contingent upon ones (authentic/genuine) humility, & in the quest of constantly refining & upgrading ones CT prowess (es) or capabilities & potentialities.
On overconfidence because of unique knowledge: It is in our culture (& in our religion, it seems too) - in particular - where we value any measure of knowledge as some passport to unquestionable divinity, truth & rightness. Are not our measures of knowledge relative, anyway? What difference does it make if you know more than me? Does it not matter instead, what we do with our knowledge? Besides I know many people who suffer from an acute lack of confidence even though they are extremely knowledgeable, well qualified & dare I say, even decent & genuine. So I don’t see any logical co-relationship between knowledge & ‘over’confidence or complacency.
But indeed knowledge does enable greater self confidence to occur because it is fundamentally empowering & liberating.
Regards,
Faheem
I said:
ReplyDelete"But indeed knowledge does enable greater self confidence to occur because it is fundamentally empowering & liberating."
Actually, by itself knowledge too means really not much. It's the fair-minded & productive use of knowledge which leads to empowerment & liberation.
Regards,
Faheem
What I have always wondered is how different self-confidence is from over confidence. Are they two seperate phenomenons or does one lead to another - it is widely said that too much self-confidence leads to over confidence. Over confidence, for me is a pompous, reckless state, but does it have something to do with a person's disposition or an excess of self-confidence.
ReplyDeletegood question.
ReplyDeletewell i would take the reference of a course called "Research Method". the course teaches us about how researchers behave and what a research is. one of the first step that a social scientist researcher should have is to learn explicit awareness, that means being aware about the surroundings and take notice about the small things around us.
Thanks to critical Thinking
we are all Explicitly aware :)
so think its awareness, not over confidence.
Regards
HIfza..
haaha... that is so true... after first few classes of critical thinking , a lot of people started to believe that they are next great thinkers of the world..
ReplyDelete