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g., the "march" toward "freedom") was occurring as he said. One cannot have critical thinking without language, and most language at least invites critical thinking (even if critical thinking does not take place).
2) How does language empower or limit the expression of our thoughts?
Language springs from a combination of our thoughts and the context in which language is used. Language (depending, on how we choose to, or feel we must use it) can either empower or limit expression. A professor lecturing to a class may use language, either more or less effectively, to either empower or limit expression of his or her thoughts. The ability of language itself to empower or limit the professor's thoughts depends on factors like the professor's speaking skill, passion, knowledge, etc. Still, the professor has license in that context to use language to either empower or limit personal expression. Conversely, a student in the course may have as many or more thoughts on the subject, but is expected in that context, to limit expression of them. The student is not entitled to stand up and lecture, for instance, whatever his or her level of knowledge or desire. The professor, however, is expected to do so. Therefore, language and context either empower or limit human expression, depending on the situation and on decisions made by individuals to limit expression of thoughts...
Persuasion also involves convincing others that, for instance, action must be taken; something must change (or remain the same); a certain decision (instead of another decision) must be made, etc. Critical thinking about material meant to persuade involves filtering the message according to one's standards, ideas, or beliefs. On the other hand, to be "persuaded" about something objectively true (or false) requires no critical thinking. If someone states, "A week has eight days," no critical thinking is required to remain un-persuaded. However, if someone else suggests, "A week should have eight days," one may be persuaded of that, based on one's perception of what the statement means; one's own values, concerns, and reasoning, and the perceived reasoning behind the statement. Therefore, persuasion may or may not require critical thinking, depending on content and context of the intended message, the way the speaker uses language, and (in some cases) the credibility or authority of the speaker. Speakers may or not persuade audiences, too, again based on those factors.
Most anthropologists consider human language to be one of the most essential mechanisms behind the evolution of primitive human ancestors into Homo Sapiens (Wenke & Olzewski 2007), as well as behind the development of early human cooperative societies. By definition, therefore, wherever language differences exist between individuals who wish to communicate, their ability to bridge the language gap will determine whether or not they will be successful. Society is becoming
Language and Critical Thinking Language and language diversity has a significant effect in influencing critical thinking because it shapes the individual's worldview or his/her perceptions of the realities that s/he experiences everyday. One of the most often used comparisons in order to illustrate the influence of language diversity in critical thinking is the differences in worldviews of the Eastern and Western cultures. Looking into the basic differences in their language, Eastern societies
Language and Thinking Language is the one aspect, which distinguishes human beings from lower species of life (Faccone et al. 2000). Sternberg (1999 as qtd in Faccone et al.) lists its properties as including communication, arbitrary symbolism, regular structure, structure at multiple levels, generation and production and dynamism. Sternberg assumes that language is most likely acquired naturally from the environment where a person is raised as an infant. The stages seem
Critical Thinking and Society Exercise: Critical thinking is a process that is used by individuals on a daily basis though many people use it without realizing it. Critical thinking can basically be defined as the process of exercising or involving skilled observation or judgment. This process requires the use of a variety of cognitive skills and intellectual capabilities to evaluate arguments, overcome personal biases and prejudices, and make intelligent and reasonable
In today's global society, such understanding has become vital to communicating effectively in both the social and business worlds. Critical thinking and language can therefore not exist without each other. Critical thinking helps the participants in a conversation to understand the possible meanings in language, while language helps participants to gain clarity regarding these meanings. Language serves both an empowering and limiting function in expressing thought. The expression "there are no
Finally, as he or she goes to express which type of furniture he or she means to buy, he or she uses "couch" to denote an informal piece of furniture and "sofa" to denote a formal one. If others have different interpretations of these two words, then they will have trouble understanding what this buyer wants to purchase. Thus, language and the diversity of language greatly impact the critical thinking