Is There a Moral Imperative to Think Critically?

          As we discussed in class, the idea of doing the "right" thing can be confusing, especially when we consider all of the different perspectives and possible outcomes. We can't really define what is "right" and what is "wrong", which makes it hard to figure out how to make the right choices and how to do the right things. Thinking critically means taking the time to think logically and thoughtfully about things before you do them. If you are thinking critically, you are analysing everything that could go wrong or right depending on what you choose, which means that you are using a number of factors to make a decision, including morals.

          

          In school and at work, we have to think critically and use our moral judgement everyday. For example, if you have an essay due in a week the "right" thing to do would be to start it as soon as possible to make sure you don't hand it in late, and this would also be the logical thing to do since you will get a better grade if it is early and well written and you wont be in trouble for putting it off. Another example is the way we interact with each other in school. The logically and morally right thing to do is treat each other with respect and kindness, so you don't hurt anyone's feelings or ruin their day, and to make sure you don't lose any friends at school or lose your job. 

          In conclusion, I do think that there is a moral imperative to think critically, because our moral judgement and our sense of logic are both used when we are trying to make the "right" decisions. It's a good idea to consider the logical side of things as well as the emotional side of things, because it keeps us balanced in our thinking. We also must understand that not everybody's ideas of what is right and what is wrong are the same; its all about individual perspective and experience. Overall, morals and critical thinking are definitely  intertwined and should each be considered fairly when making important decisions and doing the "right" things.

Emotion vs. Logic - TOK Essay

In our society today, expressing one’s emotions is thought of as showing weakness and vulnerability. When we hear the word “emotional”, we automatically connect it to “hysterical” or “irrational”. We understand that using our emotions to influence our thinking is wrong, that we should be more literal and rational; apparently, emotions get in the way of our ability to make the right decisions. The truth is we shouldn’t have to choose between being emotional and being rational. Although we think of them as polar opposites, they actually work best when we use them together. While emotion is the first place our brain goes when having to make a sudden decision, we tend to use a more rational approach when considering the long-term effects of the decision. Different situations require different ways of thinking, so instead of saying that thinking emotionally is wrong and thinking rationally is right, we need to realize that each can be useful in their own way.

An area of knowledge in which emotion is valued in the 21^st century is Art. Art doesn’t have to make sense, it can be messy and carefree, and it is used as a way to express our emotions. An area of knowledge in which logic is valued is Science. In science, there are strict formulas to follow, and no room for messing around. A person who wants to experiment with art can be emotional and it will make their art more powerful, but a person who wants to experiment with science must think rationally about what makes sense. However, logic does sometimes need to be considered when making art. An artist must think about whether it is logical to use certain mediums on certain surfaces, such as water colour paint on wood. They need to think about what will work and what won’t, regardless of how they feel about it. Also, to make a major breakthrough in scientific discoveries, a scientist must trust his emotions to achieve the results he is hoping for.

In conclusion, although our society seems to value rational thinking over emotional thinking, we can see that both are equally important to advance our knowledge in many different subjects. To make healthy decisions, we must listen to our hearts and our emotions, but also think rationally and use our heads. Overall, in the debate between logic and emotion, we should choose both.

Language

Language

Language is one of the most important things we have. It enables us to connect to other people, to communicate our thoughts and ideas, and express ourselves. Without any kind of  language (including sign language, body language) we wouldn't be able communicate with each other, learn from each other, or connect with each other; we would be completely isolated from each other.

Language can be tricky sometimes, such as when translations get lost or meanings are misinterpreted. An example of this could be having friends or relatives that speak a different language than you. I've been taking French since I was 8 years old, but I still can't understand more than half of the things my friend (who's from Quebec) says to me when she is speaking French. Meanings can be easily misinterpreted when, instead of hearing someone speak the words, you have to read them either written in a letter or sent to you online.

Overall, we should care about language because it gives us the ability to connect and communicate. The ways in which we use language are always changing, and sometimes language barriers and misinterpretations can get in the way of our understanding, but it is still super useful and effective at helping us learn and grow and connect with one another.

Senses

I love sweet food; I'll eat anything with sugar in it. Whenever I make hot chocolate for my friends they think it's super gross and don't understand how I can drink it because there is so much sugar in it. This is one example of how people taste things differently. It's so weird how somebodies favourite food is somebody else's least favourite. Like with all our senses, we only know how we see and hear and feel things, but you can never know if other people are seeing or hearing or feeling the same things in the same way.
Some questions that arise from this observation:  Is there any such thing as "good" food or "good" flavours, or is it a matter of opinion? Does everyone taste things the same way, or when we eat the same thing are we tasting something totally different than each other? Do all of our senses work in this way, where everyone's perceptions are different?

Reality

From Plato's "Allegory of the Cave", I learned about perception and the concept of the way we perceive things isn't the way everyone is going to perceive them. Everybody has their own truth; everybody has their own reality. The people in the cave knew nothing except what they saw on the walls, and so that became their reality. One of the cave people is "enlightened" and shown the "true reality", but that doesn't mean that the reality of the cave people is any less "true". In terms of wisdom and knowing, it doesn't mean that they are any less intelligent. In terms of sight, vision, and blindness, the cave people were not blind to the reality. They were blind to a reality, but there can be more than one. They saw and learned what they could in their own reality. They didn't know less that the people who were free; they knew different.

In our modern world, different people have different realities too. We have different concepts of reality in different places in the world, within different cultures or religions, and within different groups or clubs or any kind. No reality is untrue, and no reality is the "correct" one. Everyone lives within their own reality, and they are all equally true. It all depends on what you see and what you know.

My cave drawing represents the two contrasting realities of technology and nature.