Thinking Clearly

Abstract

A daft question? Perhaps it is for a student who has bothered to work through a course on study. But on the whole man prefers not to think clearly. The ability of governments to sustain futile wars such as World War I relies on the fact that subjects prefer slogans to ideas. It is easier to think all foreigners are dirty, ignorant or uncivilised than it is to learn foreign languages and study foreign cultures. It is easier to hold comforting beliefs with no rational basis whatsoever than it is to face the truth about man’s humble position in the ecosystem. So on the whole we are not too keen on clear thought.