Manologue #14: Critical Intelligence & the 2024 Election

Some supporting information for the terminology I use in this Manologue.

Critical Intelligence:
The practical to combine critical thinking, self-awareness, cognitive skills, and spiritual values to make informed and balanced decisions. It involves analyzing information carefully, recognizing personal biases, and applying logical reasoning, all while staying grounded in a sense of purpose and ethical considerations.

For the purposes of using Critical Intelligence to discuss the 2024 Election, I’m using these elements:

Information Gathering and Evaluation

• Data Collection: Ability to identify relevant information sources and gather data systematically.

• Source Evaluation: Assess the credibility, relevance, and accuracy of information sources.

• Bias Recognition: Recognize and account for biases in information sources and one’s own thinking.

Analytical Thinking

• Problem Identification: Accurately define and frame problems or questions.

• Pattern Recognition: Identify patterns, trends, and relationships in data and information.

• Logical Reasoning: Apply logical reasoning to draw valid conclusions from available information.

Ethical Reasoning

• Ethical Considerations: Identify and consider ethical implications in decision-making processes.

• Fairness: Ensure that conclusions and decisions are just, equitable, and unbiased.

• Accountability: Take responsibility for the outcomes of decisions made.

Historial context for presidential races:

1. Character

2. Policy

3. Performance

4. Cognition (a recent issue)
   

Indicators of Low Critical Intelligence

There are at least 10, but I selected these for framing this particular discussion:

• Reliance on Cognitive Biases:

  Frequently falling prey to biases such as confirmation bias, where one only seeks information that supports pre-existing beliefs, and ignores or dismisses opposing evidence.

• Frequent Use of Logical Fallacies:

  Regularly employing flawed reasoning tactics, such as ad hominem attacks, straw man arguments, false dilemmas, and other logical fallacies in discussions and debates.

• Resistance to Self-Reflection*:

  Avoiding introspection or the examination of one’s own thought processes and beliefs, leading to a lack of self-awareness and growth.

If you're a Trump supporter or a far-left progressive and want to discuss these ideas further, I invite you to come on to my podcast. Just drop me a message.