The End of Thinking? (Re-considering Series)
Mark StephensPaperback 2021-05-01
This title is part of the Re:Considering series - books that invite you to consider how we consider things, and how to do it better. What does it mean to think well? Covering 'idiot brain', lobotomies, the difference between certainty and confidence, the nature of facts, and the virtue of intellectual hospitality, Mark Stephens invites you to consider not just what you think but how and why you think. Do we think only for ourselves, or also for the good of others?
Endorsements
"This clear, humorous and insightful book will help clear up your thinking, or at least help clear up the 'you' in your thinking. Mark writes about the hard questions of contemporary discourse with learning, courage and grace - a wonderful antidote to the vitriol of the culture wars awaits you!"
- Gordon Menzies, author of Western Fundamentalism, Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Technology in Sydney.
"Do I think well? I think so! Hang on - not so fast! Mark Stephens, in his interesting and racy little book, gets us to think about thinking, or, to be more specific; to think about the fact that most of us don't think - not much anyway, as it is too difficult, and too confronting. Instead, we look for threads which will confirm our prejudices, we are led by intuition, not reason. Additionally, we confuse correlation with causation, we overestimate our own competence, we allow experts in one field to bracket-creep their judgements into areas beyond their competence. Does it matter? Well yes, just as conviction needs to be based on reasonable evidence, epistemic humility is preferable towards those whose opinions differ. Is this book worth the trouble of thinking about? I think so!"
- John Collier
Dr John Collier is Head of St. Andrew's Cathedral School, Sydney and is transitioning into the role of Dean of Education at Morling College.
Publisher Description
Re:CONSIDERING invites you to look at what's familiar from an unfamiliar angle. To consider how we consider things - and how to do it better.What were you thinking?We all feel entitled to our opinion. Whether it be our take on politics, vaccines, parenting, or the value of religion, everybody wants to have their say - and everybody loves to be right.But do we know what it means to think well? Covering 'idiot brain', lobotomies, the difference between certainty and confidence, the nature of facts, and the virtue of intellectual hospitality, Mark Stephens invites you to consider not just what you think but how and why you think.Do we think only for ourselves, or also for the good of others?
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This title is part of the Re:Considering series - books that invite you to consider how we consider things, and how to do it better. What does it mean to think well? Covering 'idiot brain', lobotomies, the difference between certainty and confidence, the nature of facts, and the virtue of intellectual hospitality, Mark Stephens invites you to consider not just what you think but how and why you think. Do we think only for ourselves, or also for the good of others?
Endorsements
"This clear, humorous and insightful book will help clear up your thinking, or at least help clear up the 'you' in your thinking. Mark writes about the hard questions of contemporary discourse with learning, courage and grace - a wonderful antidote to the vitriol of the culture wars awaits you!"
- Gordon Menzies, author of Western Fundamentalism, Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Technology in Sydney.
"Do I think well? I think so! Hang on - not so fast! Mark Stephens, in his interesting and racy little book, gets us to think about thinking, or, to be more specific; to think about the fact that most of us don't think - not much anyway, as it is too difficult, and too confronting. Instead, we look for threads which will confirm our prejudices, we are led by intuition, not reason. Additionally, we confuse correlation with causation, we overestimate our own competence, we allow experts in one field to bracket-creep their judgements into areas beyond their competence. Does it matter? Well yes, just as conviction needs to be based on reasonable evidence, epistemic humility is preferable towards those whose opinions differ. Is this book worth the trouble of thinking about? I think so!"
- John Collier
Dr John Collier is Head of St. Andrew's Cathedral School, Sydney and is transitioning into the role of Dean of Education at Morling College.
Publisher Description
Re:CONSIDERING invites you to look at what's familiar from an unfamiliar angle. To consider how we consider things - and how to do it better.What were you thinking?We all feel entitled to our opinion. Whether it be our take on politics, vaccines, parenting, or the value of religion, everybody wants to have their say - and everybody loves to be right.But do we know what it means to think well? Covering 'idiot brain', lobotomies, the difference between certainty and confidence, the nature of facts, and the virtue of intellectual hospitality, Mark Stephens invites you to consider not just what you think but how and why you think.Do we think only for ourselves, or also for the good of others?