Tag: Thinking

Prudence- I Think

I never thought I would miss Muzak. It turns out, though, that I would rather not listen to Adele being overwrought while I’m picking up laundry detergent and pickles. Don’t get me wrong; I like some of Adele’s music. I also believe there to be a...

What Do We Really Know?

Many years ago, when I was a college sophomore majoring in Sociology, I took a course in Criminology. The professor was a stern European and he graded in a way I had never previously encountered. It was called “Right Minus Wrong,” meaning that...

An Open Letter to My Niece

It takes considerable knowledge just to realize the extent of your own ignorance. Thomas Sowell Congratulations to all of the 2023 high school graduates! For those of you who are entrepreneurs or going to work, thank you! You keep the...

Our Urgent Need to Examine Ideas

In a recent essay, I noted that critical thinking is a more reliable guide to behavior than emotion, provided it is controlled and directed toward truth. I added that the aim of critical thinking should not just be to evaluate other people’s words...

Who Killed the Cat?

There is a proverb that says Curiosity killed the cat. Unsurprisingly, this term has a long and fascinating history. It was first found in a play, Every Man in His Humour, by British polymath, Ben Johnson. Originally, the perpetrator was Care that...

Heavy Thinking

I have often asked myself the question: What thinker has had the most influence on America? Each time I was hard-pressed to think of any recent American thinker because not enough has elapsed to provide a clear context. No, I am looking for someone...

Can Thinking Really Be Taught?

My recent essay, “The Decline of Thinking in America,” included the recommendation that schools should change their emphasis from “telling students what to think to teaching them how to think.” After reading the essay, a friend of mine asked me...

The Decline of Thinking in America

Late one night many years ago, my college roommate awakened me with the announcement that he had just written a profound essay and wanted me to read it right away while the “ink was still fresh.” I stumbled over to his desk, looked at the typed page...