Iâve been thinking about critical thinking lately, and how important it is to have an accurate model of reality in our minds. Itâs the only way to make good decisions-not just for ourselves, but for society as a whole.
We live in a time when some leaders work hard to create a virtual reality, shaping narratives that just donât line up with the facts. Without critical thinking, itâs easy to get pulled in and start believing stories that feel true, but simply arenât.
The thing about objective reality is, it always asserts itself in the end. Believing in a fantasy doesnât make it real. There are plenty of examples, but one that stands out is the way immigrants are portrayed. The story weâre told is that theyâre a drain or a threat. But in the real world, immigrants are overwhelmingly productive members of our society. Removing them causes real harm-to the economy, to families, to communities. The âvirtual realityâ that theyâre criminals or a danger isnât just false, itâs dangerous.
Critical thinkers can see the gap between narrative and reality. Itâs up to us to keep asking questions, looking at evidence, and holding onto whatâs real-even when itâs inconvenient or goes against the stories weâre being sold.
Objective reality always wins, eventually. Itâs on us to make sure weâre living in it, not just someone elseâs version of it.