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Ask HN: How to start developing critical thinking?

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Re: Ask HN: How to start developing critical thinking?

#31

Post by _carbyau_ »

a_square_peg wrote: post #26

Read books - that's really the only consistent way that I know of and which I always recommend to others, especially to young people. Aim to read one book a week - that'd be 500 books in 10 years. Stay away from absorbing information through internet/screen - they tend to be shallow even when they are correct. Eventually you'll read a book that you agree with a lot and come out with an opinion on a topic. Later down…

There are multiple aspects but this is one aspect I see not being put into practice much.

For almost every topic there are nuances/exceptions/gotchas/angles and they apply as much to the person communicating to you on the topic as much as the topic itself.

Details. So many details. Seek them out because the nuances always exist and they shape how you take what people say.

Re: Ask HN: How to start developing critical thinking?

#33

Post by wjnc »

a_square_peg wrote: post #26

Read books - that's really the only consistent way that I know of and which I always recommend to others, especially to young people. Aim to read one book a week - that'd be 500 books in 10 years. Stay away from absorbing information through internet/screen - they tend to be shallow even when they are correct. Eventually you'll read a book that you agree with a lot and come out with an opinion on a topic. Later down…

I’d add that reading strategy matters a lot as well.

When I read critically I usually do a few passes over the text. Before I start reading I make a list of what to Expect in a text. Then a quick pass to see if what I expect is there, and to add what’s extra. Then a concentrated read writing down questions. Then a phase to cross away the questions answered elsewhere. The remaining questions I can ask, or use as the basis for a written response. This works for papers, documentation and chapters and a bit less for whole books. I think this is a strategy I learned in high school, but never really used until the time the quality of my teams output started to depend on the way we share feedback.

Google suggests this is the three phases of reading model. Try it out. It will make you gain clarity in understanding and giving feedback.

Re: Ask HN: How to start developing critical thinking?

#37

Post by leejongsuk7 »

rramadass wrote: post #30

The basic idea of Critical Thinking has already been provided by the Stoics, here is Epictetus' Discourses ; In the first place, do not allow yourself to be carried away by [the] intensity [of your impression]: but say, ‘Impression, wait for me a little. Let me see what you are, and what you represent. Let me test you.’ Then, afterwards, do not allow it to draw you on by picturing what may come next, for if you do, i…

What does he mean by "is it concerned with what is in our power?" Does it mean "does it concern us?"

Re: Ask HN: How to start developing critical thinking?

#38

Post by sforza »

leejongsuk7 wrote: post #37
rramadass wrote: post #30

The basic idea of Critical Thinking has already been provided by the Stoics, here is Epictetus' Discourses ; In the first place, do not allow yourself to be carried away by [the] intensity [of your impression]: but say, ‘Impression, wait for me a little. Let me see what you are, and what you represent. Let me test you.’ Then, afterwards, do not allow it to draw you on by picturing what may come next, for if you do, i…

What does he mean by "is it concerned with what is in our power?" Does it mean "does it concern us?"

Is it something you can control or is it out of your control.

Re: Ask HN: How to start developing critical thinking?

#39

Post by 2rsf »

Great to have another critical thinker! Try to look through the term Skeptic(icsm). Some resource to help you onboard: Podcasts: - The skeptics guide to the universe, they also have a great website, book and physicals meetings. - Skeptics with a k

Websites: - https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/ - https://www.skeptic.com/ The Skeptics Society

Reading: The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan

Re: Ask HN: How to start developing critical thinking?

#40

Post by Dowwie »

I've wanted to do the following but cannot commit to the time and effort that it would require. However, others may be interested and able to afford the following wonderful investment in improving one's thinking abilities.

Steven Pinker taught an open course at Harvard in 2020, "Rationality", that over 3 months exposes a student to a wide range of ideas and tools one can apply to thinking. Syllabus and lecture videos are publicly available. Many of the syllabus reference material is available as well. Pinker's focus on rationality eventually lead him to publish a book on the subject [2], but his earlier works are also great sources for critical thinking as well.

This is essentially a recommendation to go broad and deep in cultivating critical thinking skills that you'd benefit by for the rest of your life.

[1] https://stevenpinker.com/classes/rationality-gened-1066

[2] https://stevenpinker.com/publications/rationality-what-it-wh...

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