In our current state with the profligacy of social media. we are more connected than ever. We find ourselves plugged into this superinformation highway where we may assume that facts are quickly accessible. The ability for any individual blogger, news organisation, or interest group to utilise these platforms is rendered relatively barrier-free with the various affordable ways where ideas can be shared and disseminated. Information and research can be unreliable and one sided, even if published by reputable sources.
I had the opportunity to attend a talk by Mary Heath in Australia many months ago who discussed how we can reflect on various dimensions of critical thinking when considering any claim, in the hope of living our lives ethically. Critical thinking serves the function of allowing us to expand our understandings of any piece of information within the various multiple layers of social and power relationships.
It would be good to read her article, but here's a summary of the tools and how they have been useful to me when considering any information provided.
Logicality
Asking ourselves whether there is any logical premise in the argument or claim in the premise and conclusion being presented. Does the information even make sense?
Evidence
Asking for evidence or any dependable information behind any claim that is presented to us as a fact. This is also involves us examining the quality of the evidence. Are we just googling the information and citing from Wikipedia, or some random social media website?
Employing counter theories
If we reflect on the philosophy and principle behind the information, what theories or positions might it have come from? Could there be alternative theories that could give access to alternative ways of seeing things?
Alternative perspectives
When hearing any story about anyone or any event, could there be other ways of understanding or telling this story? What if a different person or organisation or group of person is telling the story? How different would it be?
Who benefits? who pays?
What benefit would the story be to the person or party relaying the information? Are there groups of people who stand to benefit from this information? Who suffers or bears the costs of the information?
Examining silences
What is being unsaid in this piece of news? Are any voices not being heard? What could be possible reasons for this silence?
Flows of power
Social power has the tendency to move in a direction that favours those in positions of power and privilege, and against those who lack it. In the case of any claim, who is in power and has control over this information? Who is being subjected to this power? Is the information consistent with the dominant flow of power, or is it claim made against it?
Examining assumptions
This involves identifying our own assumptions about ourselves and others. What is being assumed by the piece of information, and does this information fit for everyone?
The medium and the message
When reading any information or hearing it in the news, how is the information being presented? Does it stir any emotions that make us change our positions or understandings about things? Can we compare the different positions and reconsider them again?
Checking for collusion
Why am I agreeing or disagreeing to this claim? Does it maintain my own position of privelage, or my feelings of connection to the dominant groups that are behind the claims?
In my opinion, these tools have definitely been useful for self reflection, but there are limitations in just processing these ideas alone. It would also be useful to bounce these questions with others. As much as we are able to provide critique, we should be able to also receive them openly, and engage in productive conversations around the matter.
So, when reading this blog, might be useful to use these tools to evaluate the information being presented to you. ;)
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