Dora's Journal

• Jul. 9, 2008 - Sausages, enlightenment, and “critical thinking”

I was very interested to read Elizabeth Scalia’s piece about truth, relativism, and critical thinking. And I see from the lively responses to the post that I was not the only one. Personally, whenever I hear the phrase “critical thinking,” I tend to break out in a bit of a sweat. I do not like the phrase. Whenever people use it, I tend to think they mean . . . something else. Why? Well, it’s a long story. Have you got a minute–or, rather twenty minutes? Let me start with Otto von Bismarck, a chap who would also have cast a cold eye upon the phrase “critical thinking,” had he ever chanced to encounter it. Bismarck’s observation cautions reticence about certain matters; it implies that about some things it is better not to inquire too closely. What Walter Bagehot said about the British monarchy—“We must not let in daylight upon magic”—has, from this point of view, a more general application. The legend “Here be monsters” that on...
Originally from: http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/06/20/162/
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