Want to be more intelligent and wise? Rather than appearing ‘in the know.’ Here are some things to avoid to make you a smarter person, and the world a grade better.
Defining One’s Terms Avoids (or, reasons to be wary):
- 1. Misunderstanding (wrong conceptions of the topic/idea)
- 2. Error (wrong conclusions based on the misconception)
- 3. Zealotry without Knowledge (fanaticism)
- 4. Irrational Fanaticism that Immune to Evidence and Reason
3 Tests for Checking if You’re Terms are Clearly Understood:
- 1. You can provide a coherent definition without a dictionary or google
- 2. You can explain important differences between related terms
- 3. You can explain the important aspects of the idea/term without hasty generalizations, or making attacks on people’s character
A Simple prescription
- Don’t rush into ‘sounding smart’
- Really think about the topic at hand.
- ****Wait for it**** Say ‘I don’t Know’
Tips for parents and teachers:
Encourage honest answers, rather than sounding smart. Conversely, trying to sound smart, but being foolish…this is not smart at all!
Related Articles and Videos:
- Top 10 Easy Daily Habits to Become More Intelligent – Vista College.
- How to Become Smarter: 21 Things You Can Do Every Day – Lifehack
- Reasons to Define Your Terms and to Admit That You Don’t Know What Is Going On
- The Accident Fallacy: A Beginning to Solve Many Issues
- 5 Insights for Your Life, from Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning
- Don’t Be an Idiot!
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2019 Steve Byerly
I am a philosopher that is interested in what makes life worth living, what is worth pursuing, and how we can learn from the past. I believe that good philosophy benefits everyone and that there should be philosophers that present philosophy to those outside of the academy.