My English Lecturers
When I was in college in Madras (now Chennai), one of our English textbooks was A Time to Think, which featured essays by notable British thinkers such as Bertrand Russell, Francis Bacon, and Charles and Mary Lamb. My sense of humor often led me to joke about their names being similar to non-vegetarian foods. My lecturers, however, did not appreciate my humor. Once, when asked about the most remarkable thing about Mary Lamb, I joked that while most women had babies, Mary had a little lamb. This got me sent to the principal’s office. Luckily, the principal, Dr. Chandran Devanesan, had a great sense of humor. He asked me if I knew what a smart alec was, to which I replied it was someone who could sit on an ice cream and know the flavor. We both had a good laugh.
My Fair Lady
Around that time, the movie My Fair Lady, based on George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion, was released. It tells the story of Henry Higgins, a phonetician, who bets that he can transform a Cockney flower seller, Eliza Doolittle, into a duchess within six months simply by changing her speech. Eliza undergoes rigorous training and successfully passes as an elegant duchess in high society. However, Higgins, a male chauvinist, dismisses her abruptly. His dismissive attitude is summed up in his remark that thinking and using logic are things women never do, though this criticism can apply to men as well—often even more so.
Why Is Thinking Difficult?
Thinking is challenging, especially when it isn’t a regular habit. It requires a lot of energy. Most of our daily activities are routine and don’t require much thought, which leads us to waste time on trivial matters. For example, someone once posted on social media about getting ready to go home after work. My sarcastic reply about how one gets ready to go home was met with a literal answer, illustrating a lack of deeper thinking. The reality is that our brains are often fatigued by the end of the day, making it difficult to make good decisions.
Thinking is Difficult Because We Lack Practice
Our brains handle many functions automatically without much effort. Critical thinking, however, mainly involves the prefrontal cortex, which makes up about 10% of the brain but requires significant energy. The first two hours of the day are considered the optimal time for important tasks, although night owls might disagree. Just as physical activities require energy, so does thinking, especially critical thinking.
Why Thinking Is Problematic
One reason thinking is problematic is our limited energy, which restricts how much we can think about in a day. Another reason is the lack of proper training in critical thinking. Critical thinking involves a set of skills and practices that help in making better decisions. Without developing these skills, we can’t expect to be proficient in thinking critically.
Judging is Easier
The quote “Thinking is difficult, that’s why most people judge” is often incorrectly attributed to Carl Jung. He actually said, “Thinking is difficult, therefore let the herd pronounce judgment.” This is evident on social media, where people prefer to jump to conclusions rather than think critically. It’s a reminder of simpler times before social media, when we could think for ourselves.
Why We Must Think For Ourselves
It’s easy to mock human thoughtlessness, whether it’s a poorly designed bathroom, a dumb social media post, or an inane response from a politician. All these stem from a lack of thoughtful consideration. My wife’s advice, “Pehle tolo, phir bolo” (Weigh it before you say it), encapsulates a lot of wisdom.
Physical Pain Seems Easier Than Thinking
A 2020 study suggests that thinking hard can be more unpleasant than physical pain. In an experiment at Harvard, participants preferred to administer electric shocks to themselves rather than doing nothing and being alone with their thoughts. This underscores how uncomfortable thinking can be.
Are We Brain-Dead?
The mindless level of most conversations often leaves me wondering if people are thinking at all. There’s a notable lack of intellectual curiosity, leading to dull and unengaging discussions. A quote I came across encapsulates this: “I never called you stupid, but when I asked you to spell ORANGE and you asked if it was the fruit or the color, it kind of caught me off guard.”
ARVIND MANI is a former teacher passionate about quality education. He lived in the US for 35 years and was involved in training youths to improve their speaking skills. The views expressed are his and do not necessarily reflect those of this newspaper. He can be reached at theinspiredteacher9@gmail.com