Critical Thinking And Action Taking, Part Two
The Socratic Questioning Method | Six Questions To Get To The Root Cause
Welcome to the three-part analysis of Critical Thinking And Action Taking. This is Section II of three. You can find Part I here and Part III here.
In the previous article, we discussed the concept of heuristics and how they affect our decision-making process. Heuristics refer to the mental shortcuts our brains take to quickly process large amounts of information. We either make quick decisions based on heuristics or take our time to make data-driven decisions.
However, if we're unaware of how our brain works and how we think, it can be easily taken advantage of. In today's world, conveying and truly understanding information relies on five significant heuristics.
Propaganda has become a pervasive force in today's world. It seems that every piece of information we receive contains some form of propaganda, and this presents a serious problem. With easy access to so much information, our brains are constantly searching for new sources of information. In fact, we have become addicted to information because our brains require it to survive and make sense of the world around us.
However, if the information we receive is largely propagandized and designed to target our biases and preconceptions, how can we distinguish between fallacies and reality? How can we separate truth from illusion? These are questions we must ask ourselves.
The Socratic method of questioning1 consists of six questions that we can ask ourselves whenever we encounter new information. These questions help us analyze the essence of the information presented and filter through any heuristics that may be at play.
Join us for an engaging conversation here on Unorthodoxy as we delve deeper into the Socratic method of questioning and how it can help us separate fallacies from reality in today's world of information overload.
The Socratic Questioning Method
The Socratic Questions were developed by R.W. Paul as a framework for critical thinking and inquiry. Paul, a philosopher and educator, believed that critical thinking was a mode of inquiry and reasoning. The Socratic method, a form of dialogue that involves asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and expose assumptions and contradictions, inspired him to develop six types of Socratic questions.
These six types of questions are intended to help us examine the logic, evidence, assumptions, implications, and perspectives of any topic or problem. To remember these questions, an anagram can be used, which is CARVIQ. CARVIQ stands for clarifications, assumptions, rationale, viewpoints, implications, and questions.
Now, let's begin our lesson with clarifications.
Number One: Questions for Clarification
The Socratic method begins with questioning for clarification. Examples of these questions are: "Why do you say that?" "How does this relate to our discussion?" and "What exactly does that refer to?" This clarification is crucial because it ensures that the person receiving the information understands why it's being given.
Most of the time, we tend to accept information without questioning it. However, it's important to take a moment to clear up any confusion by asking questions like "Why is this information important?" and "How does it relate to our discussion?"
By asking these questions, we can uncover some of the heuristics that influence our decision-making process. For instance, we might discover that we're relying on the Availability Heuristics or the Anchoring Heuristics.
Overall, asking for clarification is an excellent way to start any discussion. The next question that we can ask is the question of assumptions.
Number Two: Questions that probe Assumptions
In any given situation, there are always assumptions made, and it's important to question them. Some examples of questions you can ask to challenge assumptions are: What else can we assume? How can we verify or disprove assumptions?
Assumptions can be dangerous as they can lead to wrong conclusions. Instead of making assumptions, it's better to presume based on available information. According to Webster's Dictionary, when you assume something, you're making a guess, while presumption is based on information. Unfortunately, people tend to make more assumptions than presumptions.
Sometimes we need to make assumptions due to lack of information, but we should always aim to verify or disprove them. If we're dealing with assumptions without any data, we need to consider the implications of those assumptions.
So, it's important to be aware of the assumptions we make and question them whenever possible.
Number Three: Questions that probe Reasons and Evidence
The third question we ask is whether we question the reason behind the data or the evidence itself. This is a crucial inquiry as it allows us to scrutinize the accuracy and validity of the data presented.
We can ask for examples of the data being presented or inquire about the reasons for certain trends. What led to this data? Why does this data show what it does? By questioning the reason and evidence, we can delve deeper into the data to ensure it is reliable and trustworthy.
The pandemic has shown us how data can be manipulated, making it even more important to question the evidence and reasons for the data presented. Making decisions based on unreliable data can lead to poor outcomes and wrong decisions.
Therefore, it is essential to ask questions and verify the accuracy of data by questioning the reason and evidence behind it.
Number Four: Questions about Viewpoints and Perspectives
When we receive information from someone, it's usually from their perspective and point of view. If we don't question this perspective, we automatically accept the information and take it as truth.
Question number four addresses the viewpoint. It aims to identify the perspective from which the information is being presented. For instance, it prompts us to ask questions like "What's the other way to look at this?" or "Who benefits from this?".
Information is always presented from a certain point of view, which is why questioning the viewpoint is crucial. If we accept the information without questioning its source, we automatically adopt the perspective of the person who provided it. This is known as the anchoring heuristic.
To avoid this, we need to question the perspective and understand the narrative that might be attached to the information. Narratives are powerful tools that shape our reality, and the information within them is used to persuade us in certain ways.
Narratives build realities, and information within narratives can be biased. Therefore, it's crucial for us to question the perspective and viewpoint of the information being presented to us.
Number Five: Questions that probe Implications and Consequences
Question number five pertains to the implications and consequences of the information presented. For instance, what does this information imply? How does it impact other aspects? How does it align with our existing knowledge?
The COVID-19 pandemic told us that lockdowns were necessary to contain the spread of the virus. However, it's important to examine the implications of this decision. Were lockdowns really a viable solution? While they had no effect in stopping the spread of the virus, they actually did lead to a mental health crisis and financial implications that we are still grappling with.
If we were to question whether the lockdown was the best course of action and examine its implications, would we have gone down the same path? Moreover, should we allow individuals in power who do not consider the consequences of their actions?
In conclusion, whenever we encounter new information, it's essential to comprehend the implications and consequences of accepting it as accurate. The final question we must ask ourselves is about the question itself.
Number Six: Questions about the Question
When it comes to clarifying something, you are trying to understand the details of a question and how it relates to the bigger picture. However, if you are asked a question, you may want to know why that question is being asked, what perspective the person is coming from, what information they are seeking, and how it applies to your life.
Giving and receiving information involves making choices and questioning that information. By asking questions about the information or questions presented to us, we can obtain more information and shift our thinking from a heuristic perspective to a slower, more critical perspective.
By going through this process of asking questions, we gain a better idea of the data given to us, and we are better equipped to evaluate and analyze that information.
Conclusion
The Socratic questioning method consists of six questions that are crucial for critical thinking. We should apply these questions to our everyday life because we are often given information in the form of questions, such as "What do you think about this?" or "What do you think about that?" If we remain passive and silent, we allow the narrative to continue without questioning it.
However, if we question the information with others, we can plant seeds of doubt in the narrative, which can lead to the growth of seeds of truth. This is how we can begin to think critically about the world we live in and destroy the illusions of the false world we find ourselves in. By understanding how we process information and knowing how to question it to get to the root of the matter, we become equipped to think critically in the world we live in.
In the next section of this analysis on critical thinking, we will discuss how we can take action and make meaningful, productive changes once we know how to think critically and distinguish fact from fiction.
Thank you for your time and attention, and I hope you gained some insights from this analysis.
Ashe!
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This is great. I think I've always done all six without knowing what I was doing. This will help me when engaging with others in the future and maybe framing the right questions in our conversation. Thanks!
Well written thanks.