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A Survival Guide for the Era of ‘Alternate Facts’

Critical thinking is now more important than ever

The Un-Comfort Zone With Robert Wilson
Mon, 11/05/2018 - 12:03
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Last year I was invited to give a lecture on critical thinking to the U.S. Navy. I opened my presentation with a story I’d read in Reader’s Digest magazine as a child. It’s an old story you may have heard before, but it’s a perfect introduction to the importance of critical thinking. Here’s how it goes:

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A newlywed husband observing his wife preparing a roast beef was shocked to see her slice an inch off the end of the meat and toss it in the trash. “Why did you do that?” he asked. She shrugged and replied, “I don’t know; it’s what my mother always did.” Baffled that anyone would waste good meat, and curious to learn the answer, he phoned his mother-in-law and put the question to her. Her response was the same as her daughter's, “It’s the way my mother did it.” Knowing his wife’s grandmother was still alive, he phoned her next. Upon hearing the question, the older woman laughed, “Oh my, I don’t do that anymore. When I was younger and poorer, I only had one pan and a roast wouldn’t fit in it unless I cut the end off.”

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Comments

Submitted by Stan Alekman (not verified) on Mon, 11/05/2018 - 09:50

Wilson's Article re "Alternative Facts"

I believe what Robert Wilson describes is known as 'tribal knowledge'.

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Submitted by ChristopherD (not verified) on Mon, 11/05/2018 - 10:58

Critically thinking

"when I was younger and poorer..." was the reason to toss 1" of roast beef... hmmm... I don't know that I buy that part of the story, but it's a fun one regardless.

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Submitted by cglawe on Mon, 11/12/2018 - 11:47

In reply to Critically thinking by ChristopherD (not verified)

Critical thinking

"When I was younger and poorer" is not part of the reason, it is to set the context.

The reason was that the only pan she had was too short to to fit the roast she had and she needed to cut some off in order to cook it.

Please read the entire story to apply critical thinking to get the proper meaning.

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