western education & critical thinking. most nations on earth are traditional societies

Western Education & Critical Thinking


Most nations on earth are traditional societies



In such nations, knowledge is seen as a

community treasure to pass down from generation to generation.



Knowledge is the society’s greatest treasure.




Knowledge is not owned by individuals but by the society.




Knowledge is not owned by individuals but by the society.

Knowledge is passed on from one generation to another.


Students in such societies are expected to learn the knowledge of the society.

Memorization is a very important skill, and most education requires memorization.


In a traditional society, students who question or criticize the knowledge they are receiving, may put the society in danger because:

such students might not learn what they need to learn, or

they might damage the knowledge itself.


In most traditional societies, students are not QUALIFIED to question or criticize the knowledge of their society until they have learned it very well, are mature, and have a good teacher to guide them to the right questions to ask.


The most important values in traditional society education are:



Memorizing the knowledge you have been given.



Memorizing the knowledge you have been given. Accepting your teacher as your guide.



Memorizing the knowledge you have been given. Accepting your teacher as your guide. Learning how to pass your knowledge on to others.


In a traditional society, you must learn the knowledge of the society before you are QUALIFIED to criticize it or add to it.

People who are not qualified should not be changing the tradition.


In a Traditional Society, the most unacceptable behaviors are:

Asking why you have to learn what you are being taught.



Asking why you have to learn what you are being taught. Disagreeing with your teacher (since you are not QUALIFIED).



Asking why you have to learn what you are being taught. Disagreeing with your teacher (since you are not QUALIFIED). Criticizing the knowledge you are being given.


Education in a Traditional Society has a long and honored history. It is the DISCIPLESHIP MODEL used from ancient times and found in the relationship between Jesus and his disciples.


It includes:

A teacher with great knowledge who has proven that he can be trusted with the traditions of the society. Students who submit to the teacher in order to become like him both in knowledge and in the way they use their knowledge.


Traditional society education is good education. It is not better or worse as an education model than Western education. It is just different from Western.


In traditional societies, research papers have several purposes: To allow the student to show understanding of a subject area.


In traditional societies, research papers have several purposes: To allow the student to show understanding of a subject area. To allow the student to read the best writing of great scholars on a certain subject.


In traditional societies, research papers have several purposes: To allow the student to show understanding of a subject area. To allow the student to read the best writing of great scholars on a certain subject. To allow the student to demonstrate that the teacher’s view on a certain issue is correct.


In Traditional Societies, Research Papers must not:Promote views that are not generally accepted by the society.


In Traditional Societies, Research Papers must not:Promote views that are not generally accepted by the society.Criticize the views of other scholars.


In Traditional Societies, Research Papers must not:Promote views that are not generally accepted by the society.Criticize the views of other scholars.Suggest new approaches to a subject if the professor has not already suggested them.


Western Society Promotes Knowledge as a Means, Not an End


In Western Society, knowledge is seen more as a tool to produce new knowledge than as a treasure to be passed on.


Why is the western view of knowledge so different?

Most people in the West have come from somewhere else. They have left behind their traditional cultures.


The West does not have a long history, except for its native people. Thus it has few traditions of its own.


The West believes that knowledge is a means or a tool.

Knowledge is not valued because of what it is, but because of what it does.


The West, in fact, does not really value knowledge at all.

Knowledge is only important if it is useful.


Western education does not find much value in:Memorization (While some memorization happens, usually if you need to know something, you can look it up).


Western education does not find much value in:Memorization (While some memorization happens, usually if you need to know something, you can look it up).Repeating what others have already said.


Western education does not find much value in:Memorization (While some memorization happens, usually if you need to know something, you can look it up).Repeating what others have already said.Encouraging students simply to accept what the professor says without questioning it.


Western education does not find much value in:Memorization (While some memorization happens, usually if you need to know something, you can look it up).Repeating what others have already said.Encouraging students simply to accept what the professor says without questioning it. Supporting only the approved view.


Western education values:Using the knowledge we have to create new knowledge.


Western education values:Using the knowledge we have to create new knowledge.Using independent thinking to find new solutions to old problems.


Western education values:Using the knowledge we have to create new knowledge.Using independent thinking to find new solutions to old problems.Evaluating everything with good questions and critical thinking.


Western education does not place much value in “opinions.”


What is an “opinion?”


What is an “opinion?”It is a viewpoint that can’t be supported by evidence


What is an “opinion?”It is a viewpoint that can’t be supported by evidenceIt is a viewpoint that others can disagree with easily and not need evidence either


“I like chocolate ice cream” is an opinion:


“I like chocolate ice cream” is an opinion:There is no evidence that can prove chocolate ice cream tastes good.


“I like chocolate ice cream” is an opinion:There is no evidence that can prove chocolate ice cream tastes good.If you don’t like chocolate ice cream, you don’t need to prove your point of view with evidence. It’s just your “opinion.”


Western education places a high value on critical thinking


Critical thinking demands two things:



Good questions



Good questionsGood use of evidence


What’s a good question?


What’s a good question?A good question asks why we should believe that a statement is correct.


What’s a good question?A good question asks why we should believe that a statement is correct.A good question asks what problems there are in a statement that might show it’s not correct.


What’s good evidence?


What’s good evidence?Good evidence must follow proper rules – that it is fairly presented, that it is not biased, that it is something that a reader would accept as evidence.


What’s good evidence?Good evidence must follow proper rules – that it is fairly presented, that it is not biased, that it is something that a reader would accept as evidence.Good evidence must consider and answer other possible interpretations.


Practice with Critical Thinking


A man is accused of murder. This is the evidence against him:


A man is accused of murder. This is the evidence against him:An elderly lady saw him leaving the apartment of the dead man the night of his death.


A man is accused of murder. This is the evidence against him:An elderly lady saw him leaving the apartment of the dead man the night of his death.He hated the dead man and earlier had threatened to kill him.


A man is accused of murder. This is the evidence against him:An elderly lady saw him leaving the apartment of the dead man the night of his death.He hated the dead man and earlier had threatened to kill him.In the accused man’s house was a ticket to Europe dated two days after the murder. The ticket had been bought before the murder.


How would you judge whether or not this man did the crime?


How would you judge whether or not this man did the crime?Ask what physical evidence there was – fingerprints, clothing with blood on it, etc.


How would you judge whether or not this man did the crime?Ask what physical evidence there was – fingerprints, clothing with blood on it, etc.Check the elderly lady’s eyesight.


How would you judge whether or not this man did the crime?Ask what physical evidence there was – fingerprints, clothing with blood on it, etc.Check the elderly lady’s eyesight.Check to see if the accused’s alibi can be supported.


How would you judge whether or not this man did the crime?Ask what physical evidence there was – fingerprints, clothing with blood on it, etc.Check the elderly lady’s eyesight.Check to see if the accused’s alibi can be supported.See if there is another explanation for the airline ticket (e.g. the accused was being sent on a business trip by his employer.)


How would you judge whether or not this man did the crime?Ask what physical evidence there was – fingerprints, clothing with blood on it, etc.Check the elderly lady’s eyesight.Check to see if the accused man’s alibi can be supported.See if there is another explanation for the airline ticket (e.g. the accused was being sent on a business trip by his employer.)See if there are any other suspects.


What is Critical Thinking?



It is not thinking that criticizes everything



It is not thinking that is rude and unkind.



It is thinking that asks questions because it is looking for certainty.



It is thinking that asks questions because it is looking for certainty.Critical thinking seeks evidence to show why something should be believed or not believed.



It is thinking that asks questions because it is looking for certainty.Critical thinking seeks evidence to show why something should be believed or not believed.Critical thinking assumes that not everything you hear, even from a professor, is accurate.


Some Warnings about Critical Thinking


We sometimes fail to use critical thinking because we trust a certain writer or speaker too much.


We sometimes fail to use critical thinking because we trust a certain writer or speaker too much.It is possible, on the other hand, to distrust everything we see and hear. That is not good either.


We sometimes fail to use critical thinking because we trust a certain writer or speaker too much.It is possible, on the other hand, to distrust everything we see and hear. That is not good either. We need to be sure that the evidence we are using is handled correctly and without bias.


We need to be sure we have enough evidence.

How much is enough?

Imagine that you have heard or read something that gives you doubts. What evidence would remove your doubts?


We need to be sure we have enough evidence. How much is enough? Imagine that you have heard or read something that gives you doubts. What evidence would remove your doubts? When using critical thinking, we must present all arguments and we must present them fairly.


We need to be sure we have enough evidence. How much is enough? Imagine that you have heard or read something that gives you doubts. What evidence would remove your doubts? When using critical thinking, we must present all arguments and we must present them fairly.We have not used critical thinking if we ignore or misrepresent views that disagree with us.

western education & critical thinking. most nations on earth are traditional societies

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