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How To Teach a Healthy Dose of Skepticism?
c0d3h4x0r writes "It's no accident that 'whatcouldpossiblygowrong' is one of the most common tags applied by this community to stories about proposed ideas or laws. The ability to spot and predict faults is a big part of what makes a great engineer. It starts with having a healthy skepticism about the world, which leads to actual critical thinking. Many books and courses teach critical thinking skills, but what is the best way to encourage and teach someone to maintain a healthy dose of skepticism? Is it even a teachable skill, or is it just an innate part of the geek personality?"
...invite your pupil over to kick your football...
...then, at the last possible second, pull it away!
That'll teach em not to be so trusting!
Populus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur...
"Force shits upon Reason's back." - Poor Richard's Almanac
>> what is the best way to encourage and teach someone to maintain a healthy dose of skepticism?
Teaching skepticism? I doubt it.
"Fail alot and learn from your failures."
:)
Learn from that one!
Surround yourself with failures and observe their demise.
You could pull a few strings here and there as well.
"Hey I saw a meatball in that light socket, take this fork and get it.
I'll even give you half of it!"
...a well rounded course of study in Maths, Theology/Mythology/Folklore..., Literature, The Arts, and of course Science and especially Computing, etc... OK, I've mastered math and theology/mythology/folklore. I've observed, appreciated, and internalized all available literature and art. And I've mastered the sciences, computing, etc.What do you recommend that I study now?
He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.
Your navel?
Ok, this is /., I forgot. In any other board, this question wouldn't have been asked.
I mean the one that's more popular (or at least, widely known), because so many people can relate to him.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Which is why I don't believe that invisible monsters could possibly make fresh tomatoes bad for you.
Um... hang on a second, I need to go visit the little boys room.
Everyone knows invisible dragons aren't really invisible. They only look that way.
Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
No, you posted in this thread before it dissolved into a religious flamewar, and all you got was modded "Offtopic" which is what you deserved!
If at first you don't succeed... Skydiving isn't for you.
I don't know if I necessarily agree with this...
P.S. What about my hectared cows?
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
I prefer Heinlein's Law:
"Stupidity is often punishable by death. Sentecse is carried out immediately. There is no appeal."
That said- teach "Errors Course". Engineers of my generation heard a lot about errors, disasters, etc. caused by bad process, math, theory, materials. Who can forget the cheesy 8mm film of the Tacoma Narrows bridge failing ? Who can forget the Challenger exploding on takeoff, and the Columbia breaking up on re-entry ? And who isn't fascinated with the classic case of the "Unsinkable Titanic" sinking. On it's maiden voyage ?
Learning from mistakes is, as others have noted, often the best teacher.
The best pro-God post in the history of /.
Thank you!!
-an atheist