The problem of education is central to an understanding of the development of class consciousness.
However, education narrowly defined as preparation for work and obedience, as is the case in every country throughout the world, fails to teach critical thinking.
Critical thinking is self-guided, self-disciplined thinking which attempts to reason at the highest level of quality in a fair-minded way. People who think critically consistently attempt to live rationally, reasonably, empathically.
They are keenly aware of the inherently flawed nature of human thinking when left unchecked. They strive to diminish the power of their egocentric and sociocentric tendencies.
They use the intellectual tools that critical thinking offers – concepts and principles that enable them to analyze, assess, and improve thinking.
They work diligently to develop the intellectual virtues of intellectual integrity, intellectual humility, intellectual civility, intellectual empathy, intellectual sense of justice and confidence in reason.
They realize that no matter how skilled they are as thinkers, they can always improve their reasoning abilities and they will at times fall prey to mistakes in reasoning, human irrationality, prejudices, biases, distortions, uncritically accepted social rules and taboos, self-interest, and vested interest.
They strive to improve the world in whatever ways they can and contribute to a more rational, civilized society.
At the same time, they recognize the complexities often inherent in doing so.
They avoid thinking simplistically about complicated issues and strive to appropriately consider the rights and needs of relevant others.
They recognize the complexities in developing as thinkers, and commit themselves to life-long practice toward self-improvement.
They embody the Socratic principle: The unexamined life is not worth living , because they realize that many unexamined lives together result in an uncritical, unjust, dangerous world.
Was anything resembling critical thinking as defined above taught within the curriculum of E. Europe?
For it sure was not taught in America, although there have been periods of time when critical thinking carried more weight.
The rulers of every society have no interest in developing fair-minded, empathic human beings through critical instruction.
Only socialism can provide the public spaces critical thinking can be taught, nurtured and deployed.
The problem of education is central to an understanding of the development of class consciousness.
However, education narrowly defined as preparation for work and obedience, as is the case in every country throughout the world, fails to teach critical thinking.
Critical thinking is self-guided, self-disciplined thinking which attempts to reason at the highest level of quality in a fair-minded way. People who think critically consistently attempt to live rationally, reasonably, empathically.
They are keenly aware of the inherently flawed nature of human thinking when left unchecked. They strive to diminish the power of their egocentric and sociocentric tendencies.
They use the intellectual tools that critical thinking offers – concepts and principles that enable them to analyze, assess, and improve thinking.
They work diligently to develop the intellectual virtues of intellectual integrity, intellectual humility, intellectual civility, intellectual empathy, intellectual sense of justice and confidence in reason.
They realize that no matter how skilled they are as thinkers, they can always improve their reasoning abilities and they will at times fall prey to mistakes in reasoning, human irrationality, prejudices, biases, distortions, uncritically accepted social rules and taboos, self-interest, and vested interest.
They strive to improve the world in whatever ways they can and contribute to a more rational, civilized society.
At the same time, they recognize the complexities often inherent in doing so.
They avoid thinking simplistically about complicated issues and strive to appropriately consider the rights and needs of relevant others.
They recognize the complexities in developing as thinkers, and commit themselves to life-long practice toward self-improvement.
They embody the Socratic principle: The unexamined life is not worth living , because they realize that many unexamined lives together result in an uncritical, unjust, dangerous world.
Was anything resembling critical thinking as defined above taught within the curriculum of E. Europe?
For it sure was not taught in America, although there have been periods of time when critical thinking carried more weight.
The rulers of every society have no interest in developing fair-minded, empathic human beings through critical instruction.
Only socialism can provide the public spaces critical thinking can be taught, nurtured and deployed.