What if you’re wrong?

After moving to New Zealand at the end of 2002, my first jobs were at Massey University in Wellington and later at Weltec in Petone. I taught business subjects, mainly marketing and communication, to a diverse group of students, many of whom were international, hailing from China and other Asian countries.

I vividly recall standing in front of my classes, urging them not to blindly accept everything I said. I emphasised the importance of thinking for themselves and questioning ideas, echoing the principles of critical thinking that I cherished from my own university days in the 80s.

However, my encouragement to think independently often met with puzzled looks and even laughter. One student from China even raised his hand and said, “You must tell us what to think, Miss.” I was taken aback – what’s with this authoritarian nonsense?

“But I might not be right,” I replied. Yet, my words were met with more confusion. It seemed that critical thinking, the very skill we valued so highly, was not immediately embraced by these students. However, with time and reassurance that there would be no repercussions for questioning, they began to open up and engage more with the material – and it was interesting and fun.

University isn’t just about learning subjects; it’s about learning how to think. In our own university days, the ability to think critically was held up as the gold standard of cognitive skills. Writing a thesis based on a single line from Shakespeare was an exercise in sharpening those thinking skills!

Critical thinking involves examining things carefully, asking questions, considering different perspectives, and making logical sense of it all. It’s a skill that helps us navigate life’s challenges, make sound decisions, and solve problems effectively.

During uncertain times, it’s tempting to look for reassurance in authority figures who claim to have all the answers. But what if they’re wrong? We’re all susceptible to flawed thinking, so there’s a good chance we’re making mistakes in what we believe. It takes humility to entertain the idea that we might be wrong and to listen to opposing viewpoints.

Shutting ourselves off from differing opinions only increases the likelihood of being misguided. We all make errors and take shortcuts in our thinking. Clinging to certainty may boost our egos and offer a sense of security, but it’s likely based on illusions and falsehoods.

Perhaps if we embraced a little less certainty and a bit more curiosity, we’d all become better thinkers in the end.