Free Critical And Creative Thinking In Society Short Essays Essay Sample

People who are holding positions in a public office should definitely know the importance of being able to think critically and creatively—that is, with public interest in mind. An example of a situation wherein this ability to think critically and creatively with the interest of the public in mind would be when a policymaker pushes for reforms in the real estate sector. The latest financial crises experienced not only in the United States but other developed and developing countries were the result of naivety. There was the assumption that the value of real estate and other asset classes would continue to go up indefinitely. As a result, policymakers and real estate developers pushed for the continuous and relentless development of new properties. Banks and financial institutions, on the other hand, loosened the mortgage requirements for consumers, making it a lot easier to acquire a real estate property. The lack of ability to think creatively and critically can be seen in the decision to allow financially incapable individuals apply (and be approved for) real estate loans. This eventually led to a massive wave of defaults that shook the entire industry. The panic spread to the banking and financial sector in the country, and eventually in other parts of the globe. This economic disaster would not have happened had policymakers and business professionals working in the affected industry demonstrated the ability to think critically and creatively.
Freewill pertains to a person’s ability to act out of his own will, without any form of constraint. Knowledge pertains to facts, information, and in some cases, skills that one can acquire either by studying or through experience. Truth is a term that may have a complex meaning, especially when one tries to define it within the realm of philosophy. In practice, however, truth may refer to facts that are in line with reality, or a universally accepted set of standards. Lastly, an opinion pertains to any idea that is a product of an individual’s belief or perception.
Resistance to change, conformity, and self-deception are among the top three hindrances to critical thinking. There is one single way to overcome them and that is to develop the ability to think openly or outside the box. Resistance to change is only exhibited by people who think that change is harmful and those who do not want to get out of their comfort zone. Conformity can be addressed by maintaining an open line of communication with other people (i.e. stakeholders in any particular situation). Self-deception can be addressed by focusing on facts that are the result of objective assessments. Subjective people are the ones who often fall prey to self-deception.
When asked with the fourth question, television advertisements of weight loss products were the first ones that came to mind. It is not uncommon for one to see weight loss product ads promising the loss of a huge amount of pounds of weight in a matter of weeks, something which is physiologically impossible. The reality is that advertisements like these exist for one purpose: to successfully encourage the people to take the money out of their pocket and buy their product. By making unrealistic promises, advertisers would be able to accomplish that goal. This principle, in fact, not only applies to weight loss product ads but for every single product being advertised in various ad platforms out there as well. The reality in this case is that one has to eat less, exercise more, in order to be fit and physically healthy.