Why "Critical Thinking" Falls Short

The conventional wisdom for tackling this dilemma is to enhance our "critical thinking" skills. While there are various iterations of this advice, some common suggestions include:

1. Demanding high-quality evidence: This often means looking for randomized controlled trials with well-defined parameters or robust econometric techniques to differentiate correlation from causation. However, such rigorous evidence is frequently absent. Even when it exists, synthesizing findings can be complicated, as authors may highlight studies that support their conclusions while disregarding equally valid research that contradicts them.
2. Identifying faulty reasoning: Some advocates of critical thinking suggest that we scrutinize arguments for logical fallacies. Yet, this method presupposes that all reasoning follows a deductive structure, laid out clearly as a syllogism. In reality, much reasoning is inductive or abductive. Furthermore, many logical fallacies can still be useful heuristics in other forms of reasoning. This approach, while insightful, doesn't provide a comprehensive solution to flawed thinking.
3. Deep introspection about ideas: Another perspective posits that critical thinking is about being astute regarding ideas and not allowing fallacies to mislead us. Unfortunately, this can be challenging when reading a book, as the author has spent years refining an argument that we may not have considered. Their rhetorical strategies are planned in advance, while we are left to formulate counterarguments in real-time.

I contend that critical thinking isn't a skill to be developed but rather a byproduct of expertise in a given area. Experts can discern fallacies in arguments because they have immersed themselves in the relevant debates over time, while novices lack this foundation.

So how can one approach a book like an expert without being one?

Why Engaging with Rebuttals Enhances Comprehension

Crafting a well-reasoned counterargument to a well-articulated idea is no easy feat. It demands considerable expertise and cognitive effort, which most of us are unwilling or unable to invest in a casually chosen book.

Instead, the most effective strategy is to seek out the best rebuttals available. These critiques typically come from competing experts in the same field. What do those experts identify as weaknesses in the book's premise?

You might assume that reading a rebuttal merely negates the original book's thesis, leaving you in a state of confusion. However, this is rarely the case. Most books don't present a single, rigid thesis; they offer a broad array of ideas and their implications. When you read rebuttals, they often focus on specific weaknesses in the author's argument.

In fact, engaging with rebuttals can enhance your appreciation of the original work because you become aware of which aspects are even acknowledged by its most ardent critics. When opponents concede certain points, it serves as strong validation that those elements of your understanding may indeed be correct.

Most importantly, reading thoughtful rebuttals allows you to leverage the expertise and critical analysis of those more knowledgeable about the subject than you are.

How to Implement This Strategy for Improved Thinking

I prefer to source these rebuttals from academic book reviews, as they are typically authored by experts in the field. In contrast, many journalistic reviews might come from non-experts, although this isn't universally true. To discover these scholarly critiques, simply search Google Scholar with the book's title followed by "review."

If that doesn't yield results, another approach is to locate the book on Google Scholar and click on "cited by" to find discussions that reference the work in greater depth. If a book lacks reviews or the existing ones are superficial, I look for academic terminology related to the themes the author explores. For example, Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel deals with geographic determinism, while Joe Studwell's How Asia Works addresses industrial policy and land reform.

Identifying the technical terms associated with the book's ideas can help you locate critiques of those concepts, even if they aren't directly tied to the specific book. Nearly every idea has a label, and once you learn that label, you can discover differing viewpoints.

AI tools like ChatGPT can also assist in this process. Posing questions like "What are the most frequently cited objections to opinion X?" may not always yield precise summaries, but it can help introduce you to relevant terminology for further research.

Does This Increase Your Reading Time Significantly?

Not significantly. Most books run several hundred pages, while a review may only span a few. Even reading several reviews for one book shouldn’t add more than 10% to your overall reading time.

Accepting the Imperfections in Most Arguments

One profound realization that arises from this practice is the understanding that few arguments exist without compelling counterarguments, and most ideas have recognizable flaws. Tyler Cowen's principle holds true.

Recognizing that most arguments are imperfect, and that even valid ideas can have persuasive critiques, is vital for developing into a more discerning thinker. This perspective fosters a balanced view, steering clear of the extremes of blind conviction and subsequent disillusionment, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of complex issues.

The key habit to cultivate is to ask after each passionate argument, "What’s the rebuttal?"

This video titled "How to find any Author's Argument" explores techniques for identifying and dissecting the main arguments presented by authors in their works.

The second video, "Arguments and Claims Mini Lesson," provides a concise overview of how to analyze arguments and claims critically within various texts.

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