Aspiring to Self-Curated Thinking
Let’s assume that you aspire to independent thought. That aspiration is not automatic; it presumes metacognition – thinking about your thought process. And a willingness to put forth the effort necessary for independent thought in our culture that relentlessly assails you with propaganda and other forms of manipulation. Among the elements essential for independent thought, I offer two. First consider your frame of reference. What is it about you, the topic, and any potential receiver of your information that provide the contexts for your communication? Among other things, those factors will determine the ideas that come into your mind, the words that you choose, and the conviction and passion with which you entertain and deliver your thoughts. Second, what sources and other particulars of objective data guide you? Have you gathered relevant base rate information? That is, information which provides as much reasonably valid relevant i...