I finally got my MP3 repaired! The first thing I did after updating its contents was listen to one of the latest editions of Point of Inquiry, a weekly podcast dedicated to fostering critical thought and
'free thinking' in contemporary American life. Their episodes are usually quite good, but as I'm on this existentialist kick, I found last week's episode pretty relevant.
It's an interview with Christopher Burns, who has worked in printed mass media at many different levels. He makes the claim that the biggest problem facing us in the 'Information Age' isn't whether information is true or not, but how and if we can differentiate fact from fiction. Our brains are made to learn, and if we learn something the wrong way, it's very difficult to 'unlearn' it. So whether it's how we were raised or a result of natural tendencies to believe something, we often tend to end up with the wrong conclusions. Even decisions on the basis of consensus may easily and quickly be found problematic.
More reasons to think ever more critically today.
(P.S. I don't think the brain's defunct. We just need to learn how to use it.)
I highly recommend downloading the podcast. It's free and really, really interesting. Also, the Penn State Atheist-Agnostic Association is trying to bring in DJ Groethe, the man behind the magic. More on that as it comes.
'free thinking' in contemporary American life. Their episodes are usually quite good, but as I'm on this existentialist kick, I found last week's episode pretty relevant.
It's an interview with Christopher Burns, who has worked in printed mass media at many different levels. He makes the claim that the biggest problem facing us in the 'Information Age' isn't whether information is true or not, but how and if we can differentiate fact from fiction. Our brains are made to learn, and if we learn something the wrong way, it's very difficult to 'unlearn' it. So whether it's how we were raised or a result of natural tendencies to believe something, we often tend to end up with the wrong conclusions. Even decisions on the basis of consensus may easily and quickly be found problematic.
More reasons to think ever more critically today.
(P.S. I don't think the brain's defunct. We just need to learn how to use it.)
I highly recommend downloading the podcast. It's free and really, really interesting. Also, the Penn State Atheist-Agnostic Association is trying to bring in DJ Groethe, the man behind the magic. More on that as it comes.
Nice post. And congrats on it being featured!