BY JAN NARY
Ironically, “fake news” has become part of our lexicon, and sorting the informational wheat from the chaff has become increasingly difficult in this techno-terrific age. We need to contend with media bias, corporate interests, hype geared more to self-interest than to common good, “influencers” influenced by sponsorship and algorithms, technology that can create false records and photographs, marketing hype. There’s quite a battery at work, but we do have a good defence: critical thinking.
Our brain contains about 86 billion neurons and uses approximately 20% of our energy supply. We still don’t fully understand the relationship between the brain and its products. Our brains can sense, translate and calculate information and responses at amazing speeds and make sense of most things. But when we’re being pushed into fear or anger or self-defence, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and distrustful of everything.
It helps to pause, listen and think. How likely is this to be true? What real evidence is there? Does my own experience support this view? Cui bono? Who’s going to benefit if I accept this as the truth? Then ask questions. Seek out the evidence, ask about the linkages and connections.
Once we’ve really thought about issues it opens the door to better debate and discussions, stronger communities because authorities are more accountable, we make better decisions and we’re not as easy to manipulate. Taken as a civic responsibility, critical thinking is a boost for a living, breathing democracy – and it can put a cannonball through fake news. And we may win back the comfort and stability of knowing what – and whom – to trust.
We have wonderful brains. It would be a pity to waste them. After all, it’s what we think we think with.*
* psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan.
