At the college where I teach, the president of the college writes reflective pieces to share with our campus - giving all of us opportunities to think about topics and issues relevant in higher education and our communities at large. I always appreciate his thoughtful and positive tone. Today he shared a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr. that I hadn't heard before and I find it useful as our campus spent extra time focusing on critical thinking skills before the start of the spring semester.“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”
~ MLK
It made me think of another quote I've shared before:
"If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you. If you really make them think, they'll hate you."
~ Don Marquis
In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. and because we are in an election cycle, perhaps we can practice our critical thinking skills by choosing to hear, and seek understanding of, political voices we disagree with as we strive to reduce the likelihood of our good intentions leaving us ignorant. For example, last night was the Democratic debate and today Donald Trump is speaking to Liberty University. How likely are we to watch both events that share, and do not share, our "best" ideas for our country?
When we hear ideas that do not fit with what we currently believe, researchers have provided evidence with several findings that could represent a high likelihood of continued ignorance rather than critical thinking. For example, we may immediately discount what we have heard or we seem unaware that we were even exposed to a new way of thinking. This may also relate to the Marquis quote - when we hear ideas we disagree with, we may label the people sharing them as dumb or as having negative intentions. These are critical thinking errors that can be overcome.
Below is one of my favorite descriptions of a "highly developed individual" labeled The Elder (adapted from Coaching with Positive Psychology). I believe that MLK's broad ability to contribute to positive social change in his time, and still in ours, can be related to this way of being that exemplifies critical thinking (and creative thinking, too).
The Elder sees and understands the perspectives of others and uses those perspectives to continuously transform their own system becoming more expansive and inclusive. He or she does not use the perspectives of others to fine tune his or her own argument or principles; rather, she or he puts the entire system at risk for change with each interaction with others.
