WELCOME September 28, 1998 Issue

To Our Readers

Russ Gerber

When you're introduced to a new concept, do you find yourself closing your mind or tearing the concept apart before you've honestly examined it for what it is? I've done that, I'm sorry to say. That's why it's good to be reminded of the distinction between critical thinking and the habit of just plain criticizing.

In her book The Argument Culture,¹ author and educator Deborah Tannen points out that criticizing has become far too commonplace in society. We may believe we're practicing critical thinking, which is an important thing for all of us to do, when in fact we've limited our critical thinking to critique. When that happens, she says, we're not doing the kind of thinking that's so important: gaining new knowledge, looking for fresh insights, different perspectives, new ways of thinking. Critiquing everything you see or hear tends to make you feel smart; you're proud that you've found fault. The trouble is, that habit makes you less likely to learn.

The author of this week's Cover Story, Warren Bolon, looked at the subject of integrity in the right way. He practiced critical thinking. What Bolon learned, as you'll see, is quite extraordinary. He saw integrity as medicine. "Well, it wasn't my first thought either when I began pondering the question 'What is integrity?'" he comments in the beginning of his article. "But it is my conclusion."

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