Human Thinking (and how we empower it)
KRITIKOS sets out to provide an approach to developing people's thinking skills that is true to people and how they actually think and operate, and to the context they think in.
approach
our approach: simple, fact-based
Our approach is original but also simple. It is based on two facts - one about humans and how we think, and one about the context we think in. We then look at exactly what we need to do, in order to fully empower our thinking.
Basis for our approach
Fact 1: Human thinking is a blend
We are not simply rational or irrational; we are a blend, a mixture: of thoughts and feelings; of the logical and the emotional, the intuitive and instinctive, the critical and the creative.
Fact 2: Our thinking takes place in a context
We don't think in a vacuum, but amongst others. We are embodied, social beings, with a shared language, and who live in a shared world - with shared, as well as individual, goals.
What is really interesting about a lot of these traits/ features is that they are to some extent in tension. And yet at the same time, they need each other. Not only is it impossible to isolate, say, critical or creative thinking - our thinking is a blend, and we can't control all the things that go on - but they actually benefit/ need each other. Critical thinking can help us test ideas, but it can't give us the ideas in the first place. By way of analogy, thinking critically without thinking creatively is like being in a car without an engine; thinking creatively without thinking critically is like being in a car without a steering wheel or brakes!
What is really interesting about a lot of these traits/ features is that they are to some extent in tension. And yet at the same time, they need each other. Not only is it impossible to isolate, say, critical or creative thinking - our thinking is a blend, and we can't control all the things that go on - but they actually benefit/ need each other. Critical thinking can help us test ideas, but it can't give us the ideas in the first place. By way of analogy, thinking critically without thinking creatively is like being in a car without an engine; thinking creatively without thinking critically is like being in a car without a steering wheel or brakes!
What is really interesting about a lot of these traits/ features is that they are to some extent in tension. And yet at the same time, they need each other. Not only is it impossible to isolate, say, critical or creative thinking - our thinking is a blend, and we can't control all the things that go on - but they actually benefit/ need each other. Critical thinking can help us test ideas, but it can't give us the ideas in the first place. By way of analogy, thinking critically without thinking creatively is like being in a car without an engine; thinking creatively without thinking critically is like being in a car without a steering wheel or brakes!
What we need to do:
In light of these facts, what do we need to DO? There are 4 requirements for our thinking to truly be empowered. Each of these is individually necessary, but unless all are in place, they will fail to impact the world.