Critical Thinking
Order Instructions:
the Stephen Brookfield Critical Thinking video, and This is Water by David Foster Wallace video. Ask yourself, “Is there a difference between my perception of reality and reality itself?” Respond to this question while considering the following:
What preconceptions do I have in my life that might distort my vision of reality (i.e., create cognitive biases)? To help guide your thinking, consider how Dr. Stephen Brookfield’s preconceptions distorted his vision of reality in the Stephen Brookfield Critical Thinking video or think about the situation of the prisoners in the cave or Wallace’s analysis of the supermarket.
- What are steps I can take to overcome my distorted vision so that I might learn to understand more about the world?
- Who has enhanced my knowledge of reality?
- Who has manipulated my mind in relation to reality?
- How can I break free from the bonds of those who seek to manipulate me?
SAMPLE ANSWER
Critical Thinking
There is no difference between my perception of reality and reality itself. As far as I am concerned, the reality I experience is the only reality that exists. The argument that the reality people experience is in itself not real holds no water as it is pegged to the point of view of an external observer. This is because the external observer who may be viewing ‘the bigger picture’ is experiencing his or her own reality. What I cannot experience but can be observed by an external party therefor remains their reality since their cognitive element takes into account what they see. While they can state that they know for a fact that the ‘shadows ’ on my wall are not really what they appear to be, their point of view is also limited by how much of my experience they can see and integrate (Litch et al, 2014).
The manifestation of a distorted experience of reality often stems from the fact that an external observer with a wider point of view or vantage point sees more than me or any other person under observation for that matter. The distortion of my reality however true it may be is something that will only be realized and experienced by the external observer. In the case of something like sleep walking , this opinion of one’s reality means that reality is in itself potentially very dangerous to us if wrongly perceived since to me I may be fully convinced I know where I am going yet in reality my body is moving unconsciously. The inward perception of reality however applies to every-day life as well and this is captured through clichés such as “beauty lies in the eye of the beholder” or “the grass is greener on the other side.”
The cliché about beauty clearly illustrates a fact of life which is that what really matters is what the individual experiences and perceives from his or her point of view. The quote acknowledges that people will have a different opinion on what we appreciate but that is because they see things differently. We cannot however live to please everybody hence the need to appreciate intrinsic reality. The grass being greener on the other side also brings out intrinsic reality. A rich person may seem happy to the public because they have access to virtually everything but in many cases they have just as many personal challenges as everyone else. They will not become happy automatically due to the public opinion.
To overcome my distorted vision however I need to expand my perspective and the most efficient way of doing this is consulting more literature on areas that are relevant to my existence such as my culture, my religious beliefs, my political perspectives and also my personal development. My reality has been enhanced by the people who know me well enough to connect attributes I have to my environment. They have done this through being candid about the mistakes I make or the opportunities I was failing to take in my immediate environment whether it was social, academic or otherwise, making me learn to take advantage where I can and shed the habits I needed to shed.
Politicians, friends, religious leaders and media personalities have manipulated my mind in relation to reality. They do this by aligning whatever they are saying to things I strongly believe making their messages easier to accept without scrutiny. I can break free of the bonds of those who seek to manipulate me by seeking to form independent opinions. This way I will have rational explanations and a much wider point of view with respect to the various parameters of my life. In light of the prisoners in the cave, I can state that I will be able to question the authenticity of the shadows and study them more to find out if they are real or merely reflections of a much greater reality (Smith, 2012).
The video titled “this is the water” gives valuable advice on how to efficiently manipulate one’s social environment through the skills attained in higher education. One can ensure he or she gets the most value out of the relationships he has with other people through an better understanding of their motives.
Reference
Litch, M. M., & Karofsky, A. D. (2014). Philosophy through film. Routledge.
Smith, C. (2012). Like Prisoners in a Cave: A Problematic Search for Identity and Truth in Two Peninsular Novels. Bulletin of Hispanic Studies, 89(6), 615-625.
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