Facts, Issues, Opinions, Beliefs, Assumptions, Arguments & Analysis: Tools of Critical thinking

 Facts, Issues, Opinions, Beliefs,  Assumptions, Arguments & Analysis

1. Issue: An issue is a topic or subject of discussion that is open to debate or dispute. It represents a point of contention or disagreement among people.

Example: "The issue of climate change is a global concern."

2. Opinion: An opinion is a personal view or belief about a particular matter. It is based on individual thoughts, feelings, or experiences and may not necessarily be supported by objective evidence.   

Example: "In my opinion, the government should invest more in renewable energy sources."

3. Fact: A fact is a statement that can be proven or verified to be true. It is based on objective evidence and is not influenced by personal opinions or beliefs.

Example: "The Earth revolves around the Sun."

4. Assumptions : Assumptions are premises that are not explicitly stated in an argument
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   . They are important because the validity of an argument is determined by the validity of its assumptions
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   . To detect assumptions in an argument, one can identify the validity of the sentence and check whether the argument's reasoning would be undermined if a statement were to be false
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   . In the rare case that an argument lists its assumptions and explains why they are justified, one can check whether these justifications are valid.
5. Argument: An argument is a logical presentation of ideas or claims, along with supporting evidence, aimed at persuading others to accept a particular point of view. It involves presenting reasons or justifications for a particular position.

Example: "One argument in favor of stricter gun control laws is that it can help reduce gun-related violence."

5. Inference: An inference is a logical conclusion or deduction that is made based on available information or evidence. It involves drawing a reasonable assumption or understanding from the given facts or observations.

Example: "Based on the data and patterns observed, we can infer that the company's sales have increased this quarter."

6. Opinions vs Beliefs:

Opinions:

• A judgment based on facts, an honest attempt to draw a reasonable conclusion from factual evidence
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• Transient, formed regularly, and evolve quickly as data emerges
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• Can be changed more easily than beliefs
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• Can be challenged, discussed, and penetrated by new ideas
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Beliefs:

• A conviction based on cultural or personal faith, morality, or values
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• A state or habit of mind, in which trust or confidence is placed, in some person or thing
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• Have more staying power than opinions, but can shift as data and lived experiences occur
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• Cannot be disproved or even contested in a rational or logical manner
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• Cannot serve as the thesis of a formal argument
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In summary, opinions are judgments based on facts that can be challenged and changed more easily than beliefs, which are convictions based on personal values that cannot be disproved or contested in a rational or logical manner. "A belief therefore is the meaning we place on information coupled with strong feelings we have for that meaning."3

It's important to note that while opinions are subjective, facts and inferences are based on objective information and reasoning and arguments are subject to objective critical evaluation.

Veteran Writings

In some of the military/veteran internet circles, some of the articles ciculated are conspicuous by the absence of some important ingredients of intellectual discourse:

1. No problem is being tackled.
2. No thesis is being proposed for readers' consideration.
3. No inferences arrived at.
4. There are no arguments to convince the reader recommending what to believe or what action to take.
5. No argument logic to check its validity.
6. No argument to check its soundness.
7. No assumptions to check its truth value.
8. No propositions which has a clear cut true or false.
9. the whole article is a series of "opinions" ( I like  croissant, I do not like blue cheese or such purely personal opinions)
10. Putting together a collection of personal opinions is not some things any right thinking person would like to read.
11. And, yet these articles are circulated in the military social media with great appreciation for the article.
12. Obviously neither the readers nor the writers know fundamental meaning of the purpose of writing or reading.
13. Just the ability to write English is insufficient to write a balanced and well-conceived paper.

Why does this happen so very often?

Because the traditional Professional Military Education (PME) is failing somewhere to instill the fundamentals of critical thinking in these authors and tragically the readers.

So then, what is the problem? 

Traditional military culture. Traditional military culture diametrically opposes divergent thought. These veterans  grew up in an environment in which no one ever tells them that this is not good enough from the perspective of critical thinking. 

"The path to new knowledge is often paved with skepticism and the willingness to question established beliefs." - Richard Feynman

"The pursuit of knowledge requires us to question what we think we know and explore new frontiers of understanding." - Carl Jung

"The seeds of knowledge are sown when we dare to question the unquestionable and challenge the established norms." - Rosalind Franklin

 

And all these are conspicuous by their absence in a military culture.

 

Solution

The Death of Critical Thinking in the Military? Here’s How to Fix It.

"To think critically is to assess the validity of underlying assumptions and determine the most logical solution to a problem given the specific context. Components of critical thinking include the ability to identify and challenge assumptions, possession of contextual awareness, the capacity to imagine and explore alternatives, and willingness to engage in reflective skepticism of universal truths. Implemented correctly, critical thinking allows for the evaluation of all claims, including those we hold institutionally sacred. So then, what is the problem? Traditional military culture."

The military must redefine its “moral circle” to incorporate critical thinking as a fundamental element of its in-group, not the out-group. Questioning assumptions is not the same as “a seagull swooping in and crapping on the plan,” as detractors like to say. It is the foundation of optimizing military effectiveness and efficiency to support our interests across the continuum of competition. 

Citations:

[1] https://writing.colostate.edu/guides/teaching/co300man/pop12d.cfm

[2] https://psychology.stackexchange.com/questions/15349/what-is-a-belief-and-how-does-it-differ-from-an-opinion

[3] https://strategicpathways.net/distinguishing-between-beliefs-opinions-and-facts-its-not-easy/

[4] https://www.faithdrivenentrepreneur.org/blog/opinions-beliefs-and-conviction

[5] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/drpande/opinions-vs-beliefs-35868/

[6]Learning to write for publication requires the development of a complex skill set that is infrequently taught in the classroom. The following videos provide an overview of key considerations as well as practical tips for approaching the task of publishing quality thought.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkyFQKzssH8&list=PLoaz_22yJtH1CWjjdr5k-l3gHRvikIF90&index=1