(5 minute read)
(From previous article): “Understanding is an intentional act of emphatic comprehension.”
That’s a fancy way of saying to strive at comprehending the idea being presented. It takes a great deal of mental energy to uphold the virtue that everyone deserves to be understood.
The flat-earther noted above or the moon landing denier? Those are absolutely very foreign and wrong ideas. However, it’s equally important to try and understand why people choose to go against conventional wisdom. They do this despite the mounting contrary evidence.
Their tenacity ought to be admired at least.
There are a number of reasons why people choose to go in that direction.
Perhaps a topic for a future article?
The Space Between Listening And Understanding
We think we listen, but very rarely do we listen with real understanding, true empathy. Yet listening, of this very special kind, is one of the most potent forces for change that I know.
Carl Rogers, A Way Of Being, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1995
Carl Rogers was a humanist psychologist. According to the American Psychologists Association, he is best known for developing what he called the “unconditional regard.” This concept is defined as the relationship between a therapist and client. In this relationship, the therapist presents a “positive, encouraging, and considerate atmosphere” in which to conduct sessions. This mode of interaction is still used by many therapists in the field today.
As a psychologist, Rogers provides for us a glimpse into what he considered a successful approach to the science. I would argue that it is an adaptable approach for anyone interested in determining fact from fiction. It involves listening with real understanding and true empathy. …a potent force for change.
Let us consider another component of the use of logic and reasoning. We should focus on listening and understanding. Once again, let’s slow down that process to take a look at all its nuances.
When gathering information what happens in the “space” between listening and understanding? From the time information enters our consciousness what happens in that gap of time between then and understanding? How is that gap bridged? What is our frame of reference (values, beliefs, worldview) that we use to help develop that understanding?
The process of understanding is an astounding accomplishment that we often take for granted. Scholars have written about human understanding since time immemorial. This includes Pinker’s “Curse of Knowledge Theory,” Chomsky’s theories on syntax, and Aristotle’s posterior analytics.
But today we are looking at two aspects of reasoning, listening and understanding.
There are many different degrees, levels, or stages of listening. This varies depending on whom you ask. It’s certainly not my intention to insult anyone’s intelligence here. But a short primer would serve as a reminder to what it is we are referring to here.
Before we venture any further, it should be stated. There are those who have the inability to “receive” or accept another individual’s perspective. This condition is called Epistemic Relativism. Unable to connect listening with real meaning they are unable to fully engage with others.
It is rare but most of us know some people who fit under this category.
Most of us are hardwired in a way that allows the possibility of “empathetic listening.” There are those, however, where this is an absolute impossibility. A “short circuit” in the brain stops them from internalizing the meaning of words. It prevents them from connecting or bridging words and their consequences. Most of us produce empathy when making a deeper connection with another human being. They can never systematically understand or experience this empathy.
Most of us have occasionally experienced the regret of not really listening. This happens because of a preoccupation. They say our mind is elsewhere. Sometimes, we catch it before it is too late. Then, we correct our behavior. Depending on the circumstances, we may be called to attention.
“Were you even listening to what I was saying?”
We assume we are hardwired to connect emotionally with fellow humans. How do we keep our mind from wandering? We try to decide fact from fiction.
The answer isn’t so simple. There is no little switch on the side of our heads to turn on and off. We have to willfully commit to the logical thinking process we’ve outlined so far. Through practice (10,000 hours?) it becomes a second nature that is constantly checked and rechecked.
- Determining to find truth
- Knowing our own biases
- Using logic and reasoning and not only opinions
- Pause quick judgments
- Consider all sides
Most of us do not consistently use these tools. We often rely on feelings or opinions formed by others (the stick snake from a previous article).
Using logic allows us to break the pattern and think outside the box of feelings or opinions. We are not relying on what we already know. We are also determined on finding what it is that we need to know in order to find the truth.
There are no cookie-cutter answers or one-size-fits-all solutions to problems. The same solution to a problem we had two months ago might not work today. It may not be a good solution for a similar problem we have now.
Read Pt. 8 of Decoding Lies
