Critical Self-Consciousness

[coberst]

Critical Self-Consciousness

I once asked a professor of philosophy what is philosophy about, she said “philosophy is about radically critical self-consciousness”. I have decided that CT (Critical Thinking) is the first important step on to this stage of critical self-consciousness. CT is philosophy light.

Our mind tends to be dominated by the ego and the group when we have not yet become critically self-conscious. I am not an expert in these matters (such has never hindered me from expressing my considered opinion) but from the things I read regarding critical self-consciousness they make sense to me.

Ego influences me by:
I think it is true therefore it is.
I want it to be true therefore it is.

Group influences me by:
The group name identifies me.
The group influences my associations.
The group is us and the other group is them.
What we do is good what they do is bad.

I suspect that the ego domination was the natural human condition during early evolution and slowly the ego morphed (transformed) into a group in some areas of consciousness (focused attention).

I think that Madison Avenue (advertising agencies) and the oligarchy (non elective group running the nation in that group’s interest) have learned to manipulate our egocentric and sociocentric characteristics for the advantages of marketing interests. Our ego drives us to buy the BIG car and our group drives us to dominate the other group in the interest of our group.

‘To be critical’ is often, I think, confused with ‘to be negative’. To be critical is to stop, think, analyze, and seek comprehension and possible improvement. To be critically self-conscious is to focus the critical effort inward with the self as the object of criticism.

I think that most of our personal and international tragedies are a direct result of our lack of critical self-consciousness.

Is that a ‘bunch of baloney’ or do you find truth contained therein?

I think that we can do a much better job building a better society if we developed a critical self-consciousness. What do you think?

[PigmerikanMao]

I'm just gonna say it-
I agree with you, but the way you and your professor go around talking about it makes you sound like Buddhists.

...That is all.

[coberst]

Originally posted by [email protected] 11, 2007 02:40 pm
I'm just gonna say it-
I agree with you, but the way you and your professor go around talking about it makes you sound like Buddhists.

...That is all.
I know little about Buddhism, could you explain your comment so that I might better comprehend this religion/philosophy.

[PigmerikanMao]

Originally posted by coberst+November 11, 2007 05:20 pm--> (coberst @ November 11, 2007 05:20 pm)
[email protected] 11, 2007 02:40 pm
I'm just gonna say it-
I agree with you, but the way you and your professor go around talking about it makes you sound like Buddhists.

...That is all.
I know little about Buddhism, could you explain your comment so that I might better comprehend this religion/philosophy. [/b]
I spoken with many Buddhists and all seem to have the common view that through this Critical Self-Consciousness, we can eliminate dualism, preconceived notions about our surroundings, and other dogmas instilled to us at birth and thus realize the universe for what it is, leading us to enlightenment- escape from samsara (an endless cycle of reincarnation based on kamma [or karma]).

[coberst]

Originally posted by PigmerikanMao+November 11, 2007 05:25 pm--> (PigmerikanMao @ November 11, 2007 05:25 pm)
Originally posted by [email protected] 11, 2007 05:20 pm

[email protected] 11, 2007 02:40 pm
I'm just gonna say it-
I agree with you, but the way you and your professor go around talking about it makes you sound like Buddhists.

...That is all.
I know little about Buddhism, could you explain your comment so that I might better comprehend this religion/philosophy.
I spoken with many Buddhists and all seem to have the common view that through this Critical Self-Consciousness, we can eliminate dualism, preconceived notions about our surroundings, and other dogmas instilled to us at birth and thus realize the universe for what it is, leading us to enlightenment- escape from samsara (an endless cycle of reincarnation based on kamma [or karma]). [/b]
Thanks

[coberst]

It’s a Judgment Call

Most decisions we have to make are judgment calls. A judgment call is made when we must make a decision when there is no “true” or “false” answers. When we make a judgment call our decision is bad, good, or better.

Many factors are involved: there are the available facts, assumptions, skills, knowledge, and especially personal experience and attitude. I think that the two most important elements in the mix are personal experience and attitude.

When we study math we learn how to use various algorithms to facilitate our skill in dealing with quantities. If we never studied math we could deal with quantity on a primary level but our quantifying ability would be minimal. Likewise with making judgments; if we study the art and science of good judgment we can make better decisions and if we never study the art and science of judgment our decision ability will remain minimal.

I am convinced that a fundamental problem we have in this country (USA) is that our citizens have never learned the art and science of good judgment. Before the recent introduction of CT into our schools and colleges our young people have been taught primarily what to think and not how to think. All of us graduated with insufficient comprehension of the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary for the formulation of good judgment. The result of this inability to make good judgment is evident and is dangerous.

I am primarily interested in the judgment that adults exercise in regard to public issues. Of course, any improvement in judgment generally will affect both personal and community matters.

To put the matter into a nut shell:
1. Normal men and women can significantly improve their ability to make judgments.
2. CT is the domain of knowledge that delineates the knowledge, skills, and intellectual character demanded for good judgment.
3. CT has been introduced into our schools and colleges slowly in the last two or three decades.
4. Few of today’s adults were ever taught CT.
5. I suspect that at least another two generations will pass before our society reaps significant rewards resulting from teaching CT to our children.
6. Can our democracy survive that long?
7. I think that every effort must be made to convince today’s adults that they need to study and learn CT on their own. I am not suggesting that adults find a teacher but I am suggesting that adults become self-actualizing learners.
8. I am convinced that learning the art and science of Critical Thinking is an important step toward becoming a better citizen in today’s democratic society.

Perhaps you are not familiar with CT. I first encountered the concept about five years ago. The following are a few Internet sites that will familiarize you with the matter.

http://www.freeinquiry.com/critical-notes.html

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:mkodB...s&ct=clnk&cd=11 (http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:mkodBBrpMg0J:www.criticalthinking.o rg/TGS_files/SAM-CT_competencies_2005.pdf+critical+thinking+multi-logical&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=11)

http://www.chss.montclair.edu/inquiry/fall95/weinste.html

http://www.criticalthinking.org/resources/.../glossary.shtml (http://www.criticalthinking.org/resources/articles/glossary.shtml)

http://www.doit.gmu.edu/inventio/past/disp...ng03&sID=eslava (http://www.doit.gmu.edu/inventio/past/display_past.asp?pID=spring03&sID=eslava)

[SpikeyRed]

‘To be critical’ is often, I think, confused with ‘to be negative’. To be critical is to stop, think, analyze, and seek comprehension and possible improvement. To be critically self-conscious is to focus the critical effort inward with the self as the object of criticism.

I think thats definitely true, and I think that such a process as you described is very important for all facets of life. Certainly they are essential to a revolutionary.

But I also think what you are speaking about, and I'm sorry if I'm politicizing a thread that was meant to be relatively a-political, with self-actualizing and being educated in making judgments and such, links back too the capacity of the working class too bring about revolution, and make good revolutionary decisions I.E. Don't let a small group control things undemocratically.
I think it links in obviously because critical thinking and judgment are important too the working class for the above reasons, but also because of what you were saying about people being educated in this.

It seems to me that it is against the reactionary forces interests for vast amounts of the working class to learn 'how to think' rather than 'what to think', and as such, you may see some resistance too this in education systems, weather it be by way of formally not allowing it too happen, fostering cultures where it is not normal or desirable for working class people too exercise their minds this way or other mechanisms. Ontop of this, I believe that part of the reactionary forces overall strategy of keeping the working class supressed is too keep them in conditions where they do not have time or energy or immediate interest in learning or practicing CT I.E. Needing too work 2 or 3 jobs too make ends meet, needing to travel large distances over a long period of time for work etc etc.

Just to be extra-clear, the reason I think it is against reactionary forces for the working class too have a chance to practice, learn or be encouraged to exercise CT is because I think that if the working class were to gain these skills, they would see how much of a rotten system that Capitalism really is, and they would overthrow it and implement something much more friendly too the needs of the masses and the planet and not very friendly too the interests of Big Buisness and it's allies.