That’s why I don’t immediately judge people when they say something I disagree with. I want to know how they arrived at that conclusion. Their reasoning might be solid - just shaped by different life experiences and beliefs that led them to a different view. And that’s okay.

I can still see them as an intellectual, trustworthy person whose opinions matter to me, because I trust they’re capable of independent reasoning.

It works both ways too. Someone agreeing with me means next to nothing if it’s just an adopted view they accepted as fact without ever really thinking it through themselves. The “stamp of approval” from people like that is basically worthless.

Much more fewer people know why to think.

I like that your post actually aligns with the literature on education. In particular, it aligns with the work of John Hattie. He says that, roughly, the progression in learning is:

• Know that
• Know how
• Know with

He’s quick to point out that learning doesn’t follow this path rigidly. Instead, it’s more staccato. But, still, understanding the progression is useful.

I guess a modified post would be something like:

A lot of people know what ideas to think. Much fewer know how to think ideas. Even less know how to think with their ideas.

Its a skill, critical thinking skills. Requires deeper learning than simply having thoughts. One needs to be able to think about their own thoughts.

Critical Thinking Skills is how we are supposed to think. If we don’t learn how to do that, we substitute chaotic thinking instead, and that’s what leads to MAGA.

How to think… yeah… hmmm…