SEARCH BLOG: POLITICS and TRUTH

A major reason for returning to blogging is that this is going to be a great year for listening to claims of political truth and lying. Sides are being chosen to pick the truth... which will also determine who is lying. Should you believe Fox or CNN?

I wrote some common generalizations on this blog seven years ago to argue the point that we use generalizations to avoid thinking about subjects. It's those types of shortcuts we take that inhibit critical thinking:

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 06, 2004Truth or Consequences

"Republicans are those who support big business instead of the common person; Democrats are those who make the common man dependent upon the largess of the government. Ah, now we are getting somewhere. Generalizations based on... trends? mission statements? posturing? hyperbole?"

Click the link above for the whole post.

If we already know the truth, there is no need for a question. We know who is evil and who is good because we own the truth. Myriad people supported each of these men below. What more evidence do you need about the truth which they possessed?

Is political truth only known by who is in power?

Or... is political truth an oxymoron? Politics is digital; nature is analog.

Critical thinking doesn't first seek the right answers; it seeks the right questions. The right answers follow....

"A big problem with seeking right answers is that the ideologies intervene. The answers appear to be right because they satisfy our prejudices, inclinations, even our heart, and only secondarily our mind. Seeking right questions, on the other hand, can provide a clarity of direction and consequences. So how do you teach people to ask the right questions?"

- Shannon Skousgaard, Ph.D.; Professor Emerita, Associate Professor of Philosopy, George Mason University

Indeed, how does one teach a nation?

Sunday: Asking Some Right Questions

Friday, January 06, 2012

Damn Politicians Lie To Us

2012 IS HERE