Awake and aware by Lelend R. Beaumont

บทความนี้ดีจะช่วยคุณให้รู้จักคิด (เรียบเรืองโดย ม. โชคชัย)

Our perceptions are more accurate when we are alert, aware, and conscious of our environment. Yes, a good night's sleep, attention focused on the present task, and a clear head help us see the world as it is. When we face any event in our everyday life, inquiry, evidence, and argument are the most powerful tools we use to determine what is. These tools are used to test our assumptions to understand cause-and effect relationships in the world around us. Every day we are subjected to manipulations, the influence of self-parties, factual and logical errors, opinion presented as fact, hype, and a variety of distortion. We face measurement uncertainty, estimation errors, sampling error, limited evidence, ambiguous evidence, anecdotal evidence, conflicting evidence, non-representative evidence, disputed evidence, misinformation, disinformation, inference, extrapolation, tradition, alternative points of view, the not-yet known, biased information, parochial points of view, taboos, and the unknowable when seeking answers to so many questions.I suggest you carefully distinguish what you know from what you you do not know. Separate observation from interpretation. Use critical thinking to solve problems, seek evidence, closely examine reason and assumptions, then analyze basic concepts, and trace out implications of what is said and what is done. Distinguish between undisputed fact, widely accepted fact, theory, expert opinion, hypothesis, minority opinion, filtered information, assumptions, disingenuous statements, biased information, dogma, faith, propaganda, and speculation when reporting information, engaging in dialogue, or making arguments. Separate anecdotes from systematic studies. Consider how well the evidence represent the conclusion.

Remember that evidence is often ambiguous or may be conflicting and always has to be evaluated, analyzed, and interpreted. Evidence is most reliable when you can directly observe, examine, and prove the evidence yourself, in detail, at length, without interference or restriction, without obstruction, and from a variety of vantage points. You must be alert and unimpaired by alcohol, drugs, distraction, expectations, persuasion, vested interests, bias, sleep deprivation, delusion, stress, peer  pressure, coercion, or any strong emotions. You can verify the source,origin, authenticity, context, and representative nature of the evidence, cross check and provide consistent information regarding the observation. Evidence is more complete and convincing when the way something feels is consistent with the way it looks. The evidence must be public and accessible so that several people can examine it, share their findings, and discuss the similarities and differences. The evidence can be observed repeatedly, so observations can be checked, rechecked, and reexamined. Careful records such as notes, photographs, audio and video recordings, and diagrams are more reliable and should be used instead of unaided recall when information is required later, after the evidence has been examined first hand.

When you examine evidence, be alert of the secondary information sources. These are gossip, rumor, hearsay, conversation, the Internet, and information provided by various luminaries and authorities available as publications, speeches, presentations, advertisements, endorsements, radio and TV programs, and news items. Very often evidence can lead to dramatic conflicts with power. Have the courage to speak truth to power but do it deliberately. Facts are stubborn, and are likely to prevail in the long term. Remember that it is not obvious what is obvious, reality is always your friend.

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