Ready credulity in the face of repeated assertions is one of the curses of the modern world, and schools should do what they can to guard against it.
Source: Bertrand Russell: On Education, especially in early childhood, 1926
More info.: https://russell-j.com/beginner/OE16-100.HTM
* a brief comment
In early childhood, we tend to accept what adults -- especially our parents -- say without question. This is not unique to human beings; for many species, trusting one's parents is often essential for survival, even when the parents' judgments are not always correct. However, once we become capable of making our own judgments to some extent and are expected to function independently in society, such "credulity," the habit of readily believing what others say, becomes dangerous. Developing the habit of thinking for oneself is therefore crucial, and schools -- particularly at the compulsory-education level -- need to cultivate this habit with care.
Those who reach adulthood without receiving such training face various risks. It is not uncommon for people to avoid investigating or thinking for themselves and instead demand that the mass media provide more information that simply conforms to their own preferences. This narrows one's field of vision and, in the long run, brings more harm than benefit.
Today, with the abundance of diverse media -- printed materials, the internet, and more -- our information environment is far more favorable than in the past. Yet even if one is skilled at searching for information, a lack of logical thinking can be perilous; and conversely, even strong logical skills are not enough if one lacks the ability to locate and evaluate information properly. In either case, one may fail to make full use of this advantageous environment and may even make seriously misguided decisions.
By the way, are you the type who tends to doubt things, or the type who tends to believe them too readily?
 ラッセル関係電子書籍一覧 |
ラッセル関係電子書籍一覧
#Bertrand_Russell