Life Class Reflections (ETA): Unlocking the Power of Critical Thinking

This week’s Life Class turned out to be a thought-provoking journey into the heart of something we often take for granted—our own thinking.

The theme was “Critical Thinking”, a skill that may sound academic but plays a vital role in how we understand the world, make decisions, and shape our beliefs. Through a mix of theory, real-life examples, engaging conversations, and a powerful film, we explored what it truly means to think critically in today’s information-saturated world.

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What is Critical Thinking?

At its core, critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally, understanding the logical connection between ideas. It’s about asking questions, challenging assumptions, and not accepting information at face value.

We began by exploring a simple yet powerful definition:

> “Critical thinking is the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with a view to improving it.”

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Fear, Opinions, Beliefs & Facts

To truly understand critical thinking, we dove into some interconnected concepts:

Fear: We discussed how fear can often cloud judgment and prevent us from asking the right questions. Sometimes, the fear of being wrong or challenging authority silences our inner skeptic.

Opinions vs. Beliefs vs. Facts: A central part of the discussion revolved around distinguishing these three. We reflected on how opinions are personal views, beliefs are often long-held and emotionally rooted, and facts are objective truths. Understanding the difference helps us navigate debates and disagreements with more clarity and respect.

Gullibility vs. Skepticism: Where do we draw the line between being open-minded and being easily misled? We examined the importance of healthy skepticism—not to dismiss everything, but to question and verify. A well-exercised mind doesn’t jump to conclusions, nor does it blindly accept every claim.

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Sharing and Perspectives:

The most enriching part of the session was hearing thoughts and reflections from different people. Real-life examples brought depth to the theory—how we form beliefs based on upbringing, how media influences opinions, or how peer pressure sometimes overrides logic.

These conversations reminded us that critical thinking is not just an intellectual exercise—it’s deeply personal and often emotional

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The Truman Show:

To bring the concept alive, we watched “The Truman Show”—a film that couldn’t be more relevant to the topic. Truman lives in a constructed reality, unaware that his world is scripted. As he starts questioning everything around him, he embarks on a journey toward truth.

The film sparked powerful reflections:

1) How much of our reality is shaped by others?

2) What role does questioning play in our freedom?

3) Are we living authentically—or just accepting the version of life handed to us?

Truman’s courage to challenge his reality served as a metaphor for our own lives. It asked us: what are we not questioning enough?

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Key Takeaways:

1. Critical thinking is not about always being right—it’s about being willing to examine, question, and grow.

2. We need to recognize the influence of fear, emotion, and external narratives on our thinking.

3. Facts, opinions, and beliefs are not interchangeable—and confusing them can lead to poor decisions.

4. Being skeptical is healthy; being gullible is not.

5. Sometimes, truth demands discomfort but it also leads to growth and freedom.