Sunday, October 14, 2007

What is Truth

We have seemed to have lost the ability to take personal responsibility for critical thinking. We allow the experts to report on events and draw conclusions which may be inaccurate, misleading, slanted for sensationalism, or out of context but still accepted because they are "experts".

When did we stop doing our own critical thinking? When did we give up our own personal power of thinking for the opinion of some so called expert. Why do we not challenge anymore outlandish claims?

We have become in a lot of ways entertainment junkies which includes the news. We have become desensitized to individual pain and suffering as we listen to nightly statistics of murder, violence, famine, genocide, and other atrocities. We only want to see and hear the sensational. We only want to see and hear the experts to tell us what we think about things.

We have taken authority as truth rather than truth as authority. We have become the mass and so strive to blend in rather than be individualistic as it is too much effort. We have given up our basic rights and given it over to others to do with them as they please.

Should we worry about our future?

Your thoughts?

Technorati tags: , ,

7 conversations:

Sandee said...

Yes, we should worry. People don't even know the simplest of events going on around them and often say, "I don't get involved in those things." Frightening.

People seem so willing to except anything told to them. Are they lazy? Don't they question anything? Do you see why I quit watching television or going to the movies? These people act...this is not real life. Yet people listen to every word they say as they check themselves in and out of drug rehabs, and the list goes on and on. It's almost as if they make a lot of money so we must listen to them. It is frightening Peter. Another excellent post. Have a great evening. :)

Peter Haslam said...

I couldn't agree more Sandee scary stuff :)

Diane Dehler said...

Yes, Peter we should be worried. Most of what is appearing on TV these days isn't much more than propaganda. I am concerned that children are not being educated to think critically or analytically.

Peter Haslam said...

So true princess Haiku

Jennifer Jones said...

Hi Peter...

Excellent post!

And, yes, we should be worried.

At times I shudder as I ponder the way humans have become sheep... trusting, believing, going along with anything and everything regardless of its goodness or cruelty.

As you suggest, it seems we are losing the consciousness of care as we are inundated with stores of horror... as if it is just the way of life. There is a numbness permeating life.. perhaps because we can't take in what is happening?

I fear for the future of our species...

Jen

Peter Haslam said...

well said Jennifer and a deep concern for the future

Anonymous said...

One great example of how people have stopped thinking for themselves:

How many times a week does someone forward you a chain email without bothering to check on the facts?

That's a pet peeve of mine...