It seems we're all good at convincing ourselves that our impressions are right. Even if most of the time they are right, sometimes our senses fail, our thinking is wrong or abused. A person normally considers the parameters of a problem in a specific time and context, and draws on his or her experiences and observations to determine which apply to the situation. For example, in weightlessness, astronauts quickly replace their usual reference points.
Unfortunately, some people and groups specialize in deception and sophistry, taking advantage of our tendency to rally around others and exploiting the slightest of our biases. They know that once an idea has been adopted, the process of changing it is more laborious. Under pressure, in the heat of the moment, changing one's mind is normally out of the question. To limit reflection and prevent analysis, all they have to do is keep up the pressure, via social networks and a few algorithms designed to hold our attention. Confirmation bias, Simpson's paradox, need for recognition and so on. All techniques are used.
The best defense lies in developing a "critical mind", more commonly known as "insight", and establishing the conditions for exercising it. To avoid problems, it's best to develop insight.
In education, there are certain dogmas we've already dealt with, and others that are still in force. While it's never advisable to attack them head-on, teaching critical thinking also applies, and starts with improving observation skills. In the history of science, at a time when it was not a good idea to challenge the Church, Tycho Brahe, as a good Christian and through the precision of his measurements, was able to shake the dogma of the "celestial vault" without being excommunicated. Critical precision identifies a trusted source. With reliable, proven results, we can finally trust.
In our world, A.I. has a reliability problem. We have a trust problem if we use them. We can be blinded, but initially, we'll have blinded ourselves that we can trust them. Fortunately, we're beginning to be more discerning.
Happy reading
Denys Lamontagne - [email protected]
Illustration: AllaSerebrina - DepositPhotos
