www. Radical New Thoughts .com

Thinking And Ego

We know ego can get in the way of clear thinking, but what do you do if you are a famous astrophysicist and mathematician, and you find that one of your major theories is wrong? What if for thirty years no one has been able to prove it wrong, but you have just discovered a flaw? You change your mind and announce your findings of course, if you are a good scientist.

That is exactly what Stephen Hawkings did. He proved that his own theory about black holes was wrong, even though no other astrophysicists had been able to do so for thirty years. Without getting into the details, we'll just summarize by saying that his theory that black holes destroy the information about the objects they swallow, was wrong.

Although such reversals of belief are more common among scientists, we may wonder how many other people would admit such an error to the world. More to the point of this lesson, how many people could bring themselves to see their error. And to specifically work to find a way to prove oneself wrong is an accomplishment of intellectual integrity, isn't it?

What if you can't see an error in your thinking? What if ego prevents you from acknowledging - even to yourself - a mistake you suspect? This could be very limiting to the range and depth of your future thinking, and this is just one of the ways in which one's ego can affect ones thoughts.

The Great Toilet Paper Debate

At ten-years-old, I couldn't imagine having an opinion about toilet paper brands. But I was in fifth grade, and we were separated into groups and assigned a brand of toilet paper. Our task was to compare it with others brands, based on softness, price, convenience and overall value. Then we would have to present our findings to the rest of the class.

It seems this was supposed to teach us to analyze and compare things and come to reasoned conclusions about them. However, since it was somewhat competitive, with each team defending a different brand, it just taught us to rationalize why "our" brand was best. Soon, we not only had opinions about toilet paper, but we felt the need to defend them.

I have no strong opinions about toilet paper now, but after more than thirty years I can still remember thinking that our group just happened to be assigned the best toilet paper, as unlikely as that is. Kids in the other groups seemed to feel the same way at the time. This is what happens when we defend a position. We put blinders on.

Looking back on that school lesson, I think we should have been instructed to do a second presentation. In that one, we could point out all the problems with our brand. We might have learned a little about the unreliability of our thinking when ego enters the game. This idea of a second presentation suggests a way to overcome the ego-effect, by using it against itself. There are ten more ways later in the lesson.

Identification With Our Own Thoughts

We identify with our own opinions and arguments as though they are a part of us, and we then ignore or deny evidence that contradicts them. And it seems that the more we know, and the more intelligent we are, the more likely this is to happen. We "own" our ideas, so we defend them not only from others, but interestingly, from our own minds.

Protecting our ideas and opinions from our own minds? Consider for a moment how that might stifle your thoughts, and you can see the danger in this identification process.

Suppose, for example, a man spends years developing an economic theory based on rational incentives. Then he is playing with some new ideas one day, and he stumbles on some great insights into the role of unconscious psychology in economic decisions. He is close to creating a whole new branch of economics, but he stops.

Why? Because he intuitively recognizes that if he pursues this further, he may disprove his previous theories about rational incentives. He is challenging years of thinking - his thinking! He may not consciously see it this way, but he feels too uncomfortable to ponder the new ideas. What may have been his greatest work is prevented by a strong identification or "ownership" of his previous ideas.

You can probably think of times when something similar happens to you. For example, you're in an argument and you suddenly realize the other person may be right - yet you continued to defend your position. Or you think of a better argument they could have used, but fail to mention it, because you're more interested in winning than in bringing out all the facts.

By the way, arguing is a very good way to improve your mind in one way: its ability to win arguments. It's usefulness for expanding our thinking is doubtful. Even in a friendly debate, you may defend a position too vigorously and invest your ego into it. This is not conducive to the easy acceptance and use of new information.

Perhaps at times we all try to avoid thinking about something. If you can recall your own examples, they may seem silly in hindsight. Maybe you didn't want to explore something which would challenge your beliefs, or your opinion about yourself even.

Think about this for a moment. We are sometimes afraid to think about things that might challenge some ideas we have. But what could force us to accept anything too threatening if we don't want to? Anything untrue is easily discarded, so it is only our respect for truth which might force us to accept new ideas, right? In other words, when we choose not to think about something out of fear, we are actively trying to hide the truth.

That sure won't help us become better thinkers. Add it to the list of things that ego-protection can do to stifle our thinking. Now, what can we do about these problems?

Ten Ways To Overcome The "Ego Effect"

1. Have Fewer Opinions

Buddha said, "People with opinions just go around bothering each other." Of course, it is inevitable that we will have opinions. But do we need to have so many? Do I need to have an opinion on wankel engines, disciplining dogs, French cuisine and thirteen other subjects that I haven't spent even an hour studying? No. And when the time comes that I need to think about these things (hopefully never), I will be freer to consider all the evidence, since I am not previously invested in any position.

2. Argue Less

A discussion with another person is a great way to explore and develop new ideas. An argument is a way to put concrete boots on your intellectual feet. Present your ideas in a way that suggests, "This is what I think, but I am open to changing my mind," and then be ready to change your mind. One way to avoid the more competitive aspects of talking to others about ideas, is to write instead. You may still be investing your ego in your ideas, but it is easier to change your mind on paper - especially if your words have not yet been published.

3. Question Your Motivations

You probably have found yourself questioning people's motivations for a statement or belief. "She has to say that because he's a politician," you might think, or "He is just trying to sell us something." But how often do you do that with your own ideas, opinions, beliefs and ideas? Start doing it today. Ask what motivations other than a desire for truth might be prompting you to think in certain ways. The result could be a radical new perspective on something.

4. Challenge Your Own Assumptions

This starts with questioning your motivations, but goes beyond it to challenging all the foundations of your thinking. If you think of yourself as a liberal or a conservative, for example, you probably have certain premises and assumptions that are habitually used as the basis for much of your thinking, yet are never questioned. Habit alone keeps us building our beliefs and ideas without even seeing their foundations. There may be something to discover if we look. Some of these foundations may even be cracked.

5. Borrow Instead Of Buying Ideas

Think of ideas as loans from the "intellisphere." Try to own them and they will own you. Point out to yourself when you have disavowed a previous belief, and how much better your thinking is as a result. Reward yourself when you change your mind because new evidence came to light. Instead of saying "my belief" or even "I believe" say "I am believing" (at least say this in your mind). This suggests and reminds that believing is potentially a temporary state of action which may be discontinued.

6. Become Interested In Opposing Ideas

Sometimes the most intelligent or reasonable people have the stupidest ideas! But if they are intelligent and normally reasonable, they may have some good reasons for their conclusions. Investigate to see what they are. Even if they entirely wrong in their conclusions, there may be something to learn i from how they arrived at them. It reminds us too, that we can be wrong no matter how smart we are.

7. Make The Opposite Argument

As an intelligent and creative person you can argue against any of your own ideas or beliefs. Doing so can show you flaws in your ideas. In fact, in your desire to argue well, you get your ego working to overcome the ego attachment to your existing ideas. If you begin to feel a bit of pride in how well you argue the other side, you will have a glimpse of how powerful our identification with our own thoughts is.

8. Be Open To Changing Your Mind

Try to always be ready and willing to change your mind based on new evidence. In the sciences, critical thinking is crucial, and a good scientist is ready and willing to drop the beliefs of a lifetime if better ones present themselves. Make it a point to ask yourself what evidence would change your mind. Imagining what would change your thinking makes the actual change easier for your ego to handle.

9. Understand The Difference Between Logic And Reason

Many of the most irrational ideas and actions proceed logically from a chosen set of premises. If you start with certain premises, like a flat Earth, it can be perfectly logical to assume a boat will fall off the edge if it goes too far. Logic simply works from premises to arrive at conclusions systematically, but the premises themselves may be right, wrong, or imperfect. Do not be too impressed with the perfect logic of your own arguments, since it may lead to perfectly wrong conclusions.

10. Admit Ignorance

Our egos don't like us to say "I don't know." When we don't understand something, it's common to invent an explanation (this is why we invent "psychic powers" and "alien crop circles"). Here's a better habit: When you don't understand something, say, "Hmm... I don't know. I'm not sure. I'll wait for more information or evidence." Speculation has its place, but when speculation becomes explanation, it stops the search for truth and prevents the truth from even being seen when it becomes evident.

Three Exercises In Overcoming The Ego-Effect

1. Write down ten things you believe, or ideas you have invested some time and thought into. Now challenge them until you find at least one example of where you might be wrong. If you can't find any possible modification to your ideas or beliefs, try again with ten more.

2. Take any error which you identify in your thinking, and use it to come up with an interesting new idea or two.

3. Write down something you believe strongly. Then find at least one motivation, other than a desire for truth, which may have helped you adopt this belief. Of course, this doesn't prove a belief is wrong, but it does show how you could be lead astray in your thinking.

Until next time,

Steve

www.RadicalNewThoughts.com