Here at SKEPTIC-ish we truly believe that by challenging our beliefs we can arrive at a better conclusion, or a deeper understanding of our own position. We can distill down how we formulate our beliefs/opinions into two ways: experientially – generating your opinions based off what you have felt, seen, or heard in the world; didacticly – receiving instruction on what to think from a trusted source. The problem is, both methods come complete with their own cognitive biases!
Experiential bias occurs when we apply undue credibility to our belief because we’ve seen it proven in action. “No new employee, we shouldn’t do it that way. This is the only way I’ve ever gotten it to work.” This argument relies entirely on anecdotal evidence (one person’s account), even though it would clearly be beneficial to analyze what causes a system to work versus not work.
Didactic learning however comes with one of the most prevalent fallacies wherever brains gather to formulate thought, the authority bias. When we learn from professionals, experts in a given field, or even highly trusted friends or family members we tend to believe we cannot over turn or prove wrong the lessons they’re teaching us. We attribute the information they’re providing as being more accurate and likely previously tested.
That’s why we turn to each other! Metacognition (thinking about our own thinking) can only give way to limited growth, as the mental framework through which we analyze our thoughts is the same framework from which our thoughts were borne! Plus, we’ve just discussed how the faulty wiring of our brains leads us to fight and die on hills that aren’t worthy anyway.
Building up the courage to commit your ideas to keyboard, requires that you walk down your own logic pathway. An exercise that can take longer than expected.. trust me.. I know this pain well.. But as pursuers of truth, it is a most necessary and rewarding practice. Once you’ve done your best to give your idea some metaphorical roots, the community will provide the wind and the rain to strengthen the stalk. To round out this whole plant analogy… yadda yadda yadda, some good philosophical discussion, BOOM now you’re a beautiful flower. Or something like that.
Join us every Friday as we use the Socratic method to dissect ancient and modern philosophical concepts alike.
Want to weigh-in on old Philosophical Friday posts? Click on the “Articles” link here and look for posts titled “Philosophy”.
– SKEPTIC-ish