Reply #120: I think it's an inability to think critically [View All]

but, I suspect it's not just a matter of education - education can help offset the hate, but that's not the whole story.

In my group of friends (8 people), one has a PhD, one (me) has an MS, two have BAs, the rest have some college, though one of them never officially graduated HS. And we're a highly tolerant, educated group, nonetheless.

However, I have talked with other people - acquaintances - some of whom had college degrees, but who lacked the ability to think critically.

The vague example I can come up with is that they can't distinguish opinion from fact. If they have an idea, and you come along and provide factual evidence to the contrary - rather than doing what I would do, and examine the facts and determine whether the facts do, in fact, contravene my position, and if so, I would change my position.

They seem unable to go through this process. Instead, they don't see the facts as being any more valid than their opinion. Instead of evaluating the facts to determine if they are valid, if you tell them they are wrong, they feel like they're being personally attacked, and that you believe your opinion is more important than theirs.

I suspect it is this same kind of failure to engage in critical thinking that allows so many people to accept whatever is told to them, whether by their churches or FoxNews.

Is it a matter of education? Perhaps in some cases, but there are educated people who also do not have the ability to think critically, so that's not the entire answer.