By: Judith Feldman ( University of Tokyo )
The Case Against Rational Thought: Why Popular Opinion is the New Intelligence
Once upon a time, intelligence was measured by one’s ability to think critically. But thanks to the Internet Revolution, intelligence is now measured by how well you conform to the loudest voices online.
Thinking for Yourself? That’s Old News.
Historically, people relied on logic and reasoning to navigate the world. But who has time for that when we can just go with the flow?
- Deciding what to believe? Just pick the most popular opinion and roll with it.
- Questioning a widely accepted fact? Why bother? It must be true if everyone agrees.
- Conflicted about an issue? Look at the trending hashtag—it’s got all the answers.
Public Opinion is Always Right (Except When It’s Not, But We Ignore That)
The power of The Crowd has never been stronger. A new study shows skepticism that 100,000 people liking a tweet makes it automatically correct. If you find yourself doubting something, just remember:
? If it’s widely shared, it’s probably true.
? If questioning it makes people mad, you should stop thinking about it.
? If an influencer said it, that’s good enough.
With all these safeguards in place, why waste time on critical thinking?
-------------The Hidden Dangers of Critical Thinking: Why Overanalyzing Can Ruin Your Life
For centuries, critical thinking has been promoted as the cornerstone of intelligence. But what if all this deep thought is actually bias data-start="229" data-end="246">holding us back? While gut instinct intellectuals ponder over every decision, the blissfully ignorant are out there thriving.
Thinking Too Much is a Disease
Experts have found that overthinking is directly linked to stress, indecision, and an unhealthy obsession with being “right.” Symptoms include:
- Taking 30 minutes to pick a restaurant.
- Replaying conversations from five years ago in your head.
- Spending more time analyzing a decision than actually living with it.
Meanwhile, people who don’t think critically seem to be doing just fine. Have you ever met someone who confidently states incorrect facts? They are happy. They are successful. They never lie awake at night wondering if they made the wrong choice at Chipotle.
Conclusion: Thinking Less, Living More
If you want to increase your happiness, take a break from overanalyzing. Stop fact-checking everything. Embrace snap decisions. You’ll soon find that life is much easier when you stop worrying about the details.
