A Critical Status Report, Continued

When you're driving the herd, it's a good idea once in a while to look over your shoulder to see that the herd is still there.

Geez, I wish I had a thought of that one, but alas, it took a Will Rogers to come up with that.

No matter, since I began my campaign to fight the decline of critical thinking, trust me, The herd is still there. We have so much more to do.

So let's begin to do it today in our 28th episode. And at the end of today's episode, I'll have a favor to ask you. So here we go.

Today, I give you Vantage Point, a critical status report continued.

In the last episode, we took a hint from the singular political career of Ed Koch, former congressman and then mayor of New York City, who incessantly circulated at the subway stations, parks, and bus stops in New York City, introducing himself to his constituency and asking, how am I doing? How am I doing? it became his brand and it is a very smart thing to do we did the same thing in our previous episode last week and we'll do more of that now we went back and reviewed some of what's been doing here since Vantage Point was launched nearly five months and 27 episodes passed please click on episode number 27 and listen to our explanation for why we do the diverse things we do today we're going to review what we laid out in episode one the launch so that we can keep in sight at all times what we're trying to accomplish This whole thing, Vantage Point and the critical questions that we raise, started because of the realization that there is and has been a precipitous decline in critical thinking worldwide.

I saw it for 15 years in the graduate classes that I taught at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Colleagues of mine tell me the same thing at their universities. And I saw the same thing as I went from my client to client in my consulting practice.

So here's the big question. In fact, probably the biggest question of this century so far worldwide. Where has critical thinking gone?

We need to answer that question and then decide what to do about it.

And here's the answer in short form.

Borrowing here from that episode, one above, in fact, let's look back.

Please refer back to that episode, number one, entitled The Critical Decline of Critical Thinking, to get a little bit more of a build-out on each of the 10 types of critical thinking.

Here we simply refer to each of the top 10, but let me give you a review of the top 10 types of critical thinking.

In episode one, we elucidated on each one, gave you a couple of sentences about the structure of the thinking and the types of critical thinking. Today, we're just going to review the 10 and tell you if you want more detail, which is available, go back to episode one.

The first type of critical thinking is analytical thinking, followed by logical reasoning, evaluative thinking, reflective thinking, creative or divergent thinking, problem solving, systems thinking, strategic thinking, ethical thinking, and skeptical thinking.

These are the ten recognizable, ubiquitous types of critical thinking.

And what's Vantage Point got to do with this? Well, at its core, Vantage Point has one objective and one only.

To help make you better, more competitive, and more fulfilled by constantly Improving your critical thinking That's our promise But now If you are a critical thinker You ask Questions like this What is the evidence?

Is the source reliable?

Is the data current?

Are there alternative explanations?

What assumptions are being made? Do I or we favor certain data or positions?

Are there fallacies here?

Does the conclusion logically follow from the facts?

There are lots more questions like this, but you'll recognize them. These are probing questions, refusing to sit down and say, yes, sir, or yes, ma 'am.

Critical thinking is not actually a skill, but a trait.

It does, however, merge and integrate important critical thinking skills, such as analysis, which would be breaking ideas into parts to understand them. Logic, identifying whether reasoning is sound or flawed.

Evaluation, judging the credibility and strength of evidence.

Inference, drawing conclusions from available information.

Open-mindedness, considering different viewpoints fairly. skepticism, not automatically believing claims, even popular ones.

You want to know where humor is born?

Out of skepticism.

And finally, reflection, examining your own biases and thinking patterns.

I want to go back to humor for a second. I believe that aside from the wheel and the controlled use of fire, nothing has moved humanity forward more strongly than humor. And it becomes one of our only identifiable traits that no other species has. It's more important than just going out for a night at the comedy club.

So what does this begin to look like? What can each of us do?

I'm going to give you a starter set of suggestions of what to do to become more critical thinkers and more creative thinkers.

These are things that I've always engaged in and that critical, creative thinkers whom I know and respect have always done.

One day in the next couple of months, I will devote an entire episode to creative thinking and perhaps maybe even more than that. But in the meantime, here's a starter set of suggestions to promote your critical thinking.

Encourage more face-to-face interaction and far less worship of the screen.

Good listeners and good receivers of information take in that information with two sets of organs. We listen with our ears and we listen with our eyes.

What's the body language like what's the environment like someone's dressed, moves interacts you don't get that on the screen, you do get that in face to face interaction two read regularly from hard copy read books newspapers, journals, etc.

Keep your devices in your pocket.

This is not possible entirely in today's world, but to some degree, try it. Do it wherever you can and as much as you can.

Not only should you read regularly, but number three, you should write regularly.

Stave what you write and you'll see why. I've been writing as part of my living and part of my existence regularly, which means at least every week, if not more, for 23 years.

Before that, for about 20 years, I've been writing as part of my job, writing sales materials, corporate materials etc when i go back and see what i've written and i have saved everything i've written i immediately become a better writer why did i say that why did i do it that way when just look how bad that was or look how good that was you can only do that if you're right if you haven't got something monumental to write like the declaration of Independence or the Magna Carta, that's fine.

If you've got a 200-word essay, write it, save it, and go back and see what you've written.

Number four, read for pleasure and edification, not just for business. Reading is not just a responsibility. It's an absolute joy, and it's a stimulation.

It hasn't failed in thousands of years, and it won't start failing now.

At work, devise your competitor's strategy against your product. This is a great team exercise.

Defeat your own product and see what you come up with. I won't guarantee because I've learn not to do that, but I will surely tell you that your chances of elevating your own business and your own revenue are going to be high.

Likewise, cross-pollinate your company's or organization's department seniority levels. Mix things up. Have brainstorming meetings with C-level officers, included with the new interns that just showed up. Jack Welch used to do that all the time.

And he used to say, listen to the new guy. We know where that got him.

Debate an issue and then switch sides and debate the other side of the issue. See how that works out.

When we strive for fair-mindedness, this is the best way to do it. The next one is my favorite.

Puzzles, and more puzzles.

Have them around you everywhere, in the break room, at your desk, at home. They're great hobbies or time fillers while waiting for meetings, mind stretchers, obstacle illusions, or just to do something different with your with your brain.

You want optical illusions. You want visual puzzles, word puzzles, math puzzles.

It's actually not even important to finish them. It's important to stress the attempt to do that.

Next one is two words, and that's all you need from me. Visit museums.

Next.

Trust yourself on this one when I tell you to cook, paint, sculpt, garden, or play music. You don't have to be great. You just need to create something.

It is a whole different mindset, and it plays on your ability to tackle other things well. Create something.

Next.

This is a lot of fun if you want to challenge yourself one day and do it often turn off your gps drive 50 miles away from home somewhere up in the hills and 20 miles off the interstate and then figure out how to get home not only will you but you'll find yourself doing different things in order to accomplish that and you'll have a hell of a good time while you're at it. You'll probably find a great restaurant for dinner, too.

And lastly, not lastly, but lastly for now, reread something you read a long time ago.

This is interesting. It's a little time-consuming, but it's worth it.

I read Alice in Wonderland when I was 10, and then again when I was 70.

Mind-blowing, freaking mind-blowing I also read To Kill a Mockingbird when I was 14 And then again at 72 And that exercise was soul-stirring Okay, enough out of me The rest, with my help from time to time, is up to you But get going doing. Do the mental exercises and the soul stirring that's going to help you become more of a critical thinker. And I promise to bring episodes like this to you regularly. And now I'm going to ask you my favor. But first, a little news.

You've asked us for more.

And here at Vantage Point we're going to bring it tantalizing extras are on the way just for our members so stay tuned the announcement is coming now for the favor i promised you think of five people a friend a colleague at work someone in your family people who would rather think for themselves than be told what to think and send them this episode today here's why it matters now when those extras arrive the first to know will be the people who follow the show and are on our email list so follow Vantage Point wherever you listen join the email list podcast at leandor.com and bring your five with you the bigger this community grows the more we can bring to all of you so don't wait for the announcement to share it share it now in the meantime as i do with all my episodes let me tail off with a couple of aphorisms and great minds great thoughts the two aphorisms for the day The irony of technology is that the more we have the capability to unite humanity, the more capability we have to create chaos.

And we prove it every day.

The second aphorism of the day is unattended over time.

Problems get bigger and opportunities get smaller. There are no exceptions to that rule.

And for our great minds, sign off for the day.

Mark Twain, one of the two truly original Americans, Ben Franklin the other, Mark Twain said, sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.

That's it for today, dear listeners. Thank you very much. Please, if you'll do me that favor that I asked, I would be most grateful. Thanks. This is Eli Amdur. See you next time. And until then, keep questioning, keep learning, and keep thinking critically.