What Critical Thinkers Can Learn From Actors

[emptytheory]

Anatol Rapoport's rules for how to write a successful critical commentary:

(1) Attempt to re-express your opponent’s position so clearly, vividly and fairly that your opponent says “Thanks, I wish I’d thought of putting it that way.”

(2) List any points of agreement (especially if they are not matters of general or widespread agreement).

(3) Mention anything you have learned from your opponent.

Only then are you permitted to say so much as a word of rebuttal or criticism.

[PhilosophyFreak]

@emptytheory Thanks for another great reference. I hadn't heard of this version before.

[ChadSmith1452]

The part beginning at 5:52 reminds me of Bertrand Russel's observation that one should make a thoroughgoing, sustained effort to place himself as nearly as possible in the state of mind of someone who holds a serious belief before even beginning to to examine it critically.

Only when you are completely satisfied that your empathic imagination can take your theory of mind no further (I'm obviously paraphrasing) should you attempt to dismantle said belief critically.

[PhilosophyFreak]

@ChadSmith1452 Yep, Russell knew the score. 

[darkwhitedirewolf]

Thanks. I should have thought to use my "customer service skills," or my " family communications skills," when debating. It is very hard when the other person is both irrational and obnoxious, you want to go into "pwnage mode." "Teach them a lesson."

[Ant1Live]

@darkwhitedirewolf Remember that a person can be obnoxious, yet still be correct. Sometimes it is VERY hard to see the truth in someone else's thought process simply because they don't express it in a clear and rational manner.

I refuse to get into debates for that very reason. Discussions, yes, debates, never. The point of a debate is to win. Winning a debate is like winning a game of online poker. Fun; but who cares? :)

[Arcadia62091]

I love you

[inspirediam]

You speak of the concept of empathy. Excellent video, faved and shared.

[neoaeonian]

Confirmation Bias is such a built in human weakness.

Excellent examples. In both cases (population and religion) people don't understand critical thinking, and focus on finding flaw, rather than on understanding..

I'm became a transhumanist optimist. It is one of those ideas that, like relativity, sounds wrong on the surface, but the more you look, the more sense it makes. I think we're only one major breakthrough away (artificial subjective consciousness) to eco-friendly vast prosperity.

[feron99]

Another excellent lesson! Thank you.

[MsJustwatchme]

Excellent! Keep them coming! BTW I noticed you used a pick of Ray Kurzweil. I am an elementary school teacher and his text to speech software has been a god send for kids with learning disabilities. He is brilliant.

[PhilosophyFreak]

@MsJustwatchme There's no doubt he's brilliant. His list of inventions is long and impressive. Whether his speculations about the future are reliable is another matter, but he's a smart guy to be sure.

[ChadSmith1452]

@PhilosophyFreak Your channel is scandalously under-subscribed. I have a masters in philosophy, but I thoroughly enjoy your explications even if I don't learn anything particularly new from them.

You're a superb and eminently listenable pedagogue.