Jordan Peterson The Best Way To Learn Critical Thinking

Summary

The transcript emphasizes the importance of teaching critical thinking through writing. It highlights the difficulty in teaching writing due to its time-consuming nature and the challenge of providing constructive feedback. The speaker argues that writing is synonymous with thinking and is a powerful tool for success. They express frustration that universities often fail to convey the purpose of writing assignments beyond grades, missing the opportunity to empower students with a skill that can lead to effective action and influence in the world.

Takeaways

• 📝 Writing is a critical skill for teaching critical thinking.
• 🕒 Teaching writing is time-intensive and challenging.
• 📉 Identifying and correcting errors in writing is crucial for improvement.
• 📈 Using a rubric can help address the difficulties in teaching writing.
• 🤔 Writing is intrinsically linked to thinking and effective action.
• 🏫 Universities often fail to explain the importance of writing to students.
• 💡 Writing is a powerful tool for achieving goals and winning arguments.
• 🗣️ Coherent argumentation and presentation skills are highly valued.
• 💼 Effective writing and communication can lead to opportunities and influence.
• 🤷‍♂️ The lack of emphasis on writing skills is a mystery and potential disadvantage.

Q & A

What is considered the best way to teach critical thinking according to the transcript?

Teaching people to write is considered the best way to teach critical thinking.

Why is teaching people to write considered difficult?

It is difficult because it is time-intensive and requires detailed feedback on multiple aspects of writing, such as word choice, phrasing, sentence structure, and paragraph coherence.

What is the main issue with marking a bad essay?

The main issue is that almost every aspect of the essay can be wrong, making it challenging to provide constructive feedback without overwhelming the student.

What approach does the speaker suggest to address the difficulty of teaching writing?

The speaker suggests addressing the issue from the production side using a rubric, rather than focusing solely on grading.

Why is writing equated with thinking in the transcript?

Writing is equated with thinking because there is no difference between the two; writing is a form of expressing thoughts coherently.

What is the significance of understanding why one should write something, as mentioned in the transcript?

Understanding why one should write is significant because it motivates students to learn to think, which is essential for acting effectively in the world.

How does the ability to write, speak, and present relate to success, according to the speaker?

The ability to write, speak, and present coherently is considered a powerful weapon that can lead to success by winning arguments, gaining opportunities, and having influence.

What analogy does the speaker use to describe the importance of learning to write?

The speaker uses the analogy of a sword, an M16, and a bulletproof vest to describe learning to write as equipping oneself with powerful tools for success.

Why does the speaker find it puzzling that the importance of writing is not made evident to students?

The speaker is puzzled because writing is a critical skill that can greatly enhance a person's ability to succeed, yet it is often not emphasized enough in education.

What might be a reason for not emphasizing the importance of writing in education, as speculated in the transcript?

One speculated reason is that there might be a conspiracy to keep students weak to reduce competition, though this is presented as a hypothetical idea.

What is the speaker's view on the role of articulateness in education?

The speaker views articulateness as a dangerous and powerful tool that should be taught to students to empower them.