Many people like to see themselves as independent thinkers. Do you see yourself as one?

Question

Describe what you feel consitutes independent thinking and then rate yourself on a scale of 1-5. If you give the question some thought you may come to recognize that several of the beliefs, values, ideas etc.. that you currently hold are merely adopted from other people. And if so, in what way has this held you back or caused you anxiety...and, what prevents you from untying yourself? t

p.s - 5 being the highest level of independent thinking.

Dear "Jessicah900". I have asked myself these question - long ago- and as a result have become an independent thinker leading a much happier life. But thanks for your profound advice. Very moving. Dingbat.

Answer 1

You are describing a "Freethinker" - and it requires peeling away layer by layer of junk.. filtering out religion.. politics.. and superstition.. and that is a big job.. and takes real effort.. but I must say when pieces begin falling into (or out of) place.. it becomes easier and is quite rewarding..!!

I'll give myself a 5.. ; )

Answer 2

I was just going to answer this without giving it a whole lot of thought. I figure that by an independent thinker that you where refering to the choice of not following the standard norm but having opinions based on ones own beliefs. But then I did exactly what you suggested, I stopped and thought about it for a second and realized that the question wasn't really so much about having opinions as it really meant (at least to me) how often do you actually ponder something void of any social implications. By this I mean how often do my thoughts become generaited by a conversation I had, or an article I read, or the like. While the opinion that I may form is independent from the orginal idea it was still based on the underlineing thought. So in that aspect I guess I'm not really that much of an independent thinker. How ever I do have my fair share of moments where I'm just "spacing out" where I actually do have thoughts that seem to manifest themselfs strictly from my subconicence. Mostly happens when I'm out for a walk through the back woods or lying in bed waiting to fall asleep. So I guess there are times in which I actually do become an independent thinker. I guess if I had to grade myself I would put myself somewhere in the 2-2.5 range.

Answer 3

what i feel consitutes independent thinkingis that you know you are thinking,then realizin gyou are constantly thinking which means that all of us are independent thinkers at some point in our lives like when your a baby who decides we you crawl who decides when you walk you do and its in these basic thoughts that we will always be independent i will always be independent cause i can crawl walk and laugh any time i want. um however i am tied because no matter what i do right now i will always be told what to think and i can never control it but i can wait until i go to bed and then when i wake up again for one brief moment each morning i am a independent thinker until the day when i shut myself off from the world and i cant possiblily borrow or adopt beliefs vaules ideas then on that day and forever more after that i will be an independent thinker mmmm 5 stars baby yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ...and a partridge in a pear tree

Answer 4

I once saw my self as an independent thinker. Questioning all my preconceived notions, and those around me. But then, I found that I didn't have the answers. Even the concept the independent thinking is is flawed. Independence from your own group ... membership to another group? Independence for the sake of independence? Why? So, now I consider myself to be more open minded then, independent. Other people sure have some great ideas. I'm willing to learn from others as well as walk my own path when need be.

Answer 5

Independence is free of rating systems. Man is not an island others beliefs values and ideas may be integrated into the rest of the knowledge that one may possess to one's benefit but it is never to be adopted or accepted uncritically or without question I hold myself back if I do not question, anxiety is created if I fail to be critical, in short this is how I prevent myself from being tied up. Independent thinking requires a valid effort.

Answer 6

first off, I try to question as many things as I can and i'm constantly analyzing my own motives. I also try to filter through as much of the b.s. as I can, and I think I come at things from a perspective that's much more local and case-sensitive. I tend to distrust general answers and try my best to find the actual phenomena, so in that sense i incline towards independant thinking. I'm way of big theories. i like to smell out the answers.

but i'm also acutely aware that everyone has blind spots and that everybody is influenced by other people. my belief system tends to change and modify itself all the time. But I also know that however 'independant' I think I am I will incline towards the answer that makes me feel better rather than the one that makes me a fool, and I can't be sure i'm not decieving myself.

I'll give myself a 4. I think the biggest things to get better are to develop basic critical thinking skills, be extremely empathetic and always try to understand what it's like to see things from a different perspective, keep an eye on the actual phenomena and not what people say about it, be aware of yourself and your shortcomings, prejudices, perspective, weaknesses and influences. and DON'T ASSUME YOU KNOW. always ASK. even if asking sounds absurd and everyone laughs, ask anyways.

Answer 7

Independent thinking: beliefs that are not comprised by merely adopted views of other people,authority, tradition, or any other dogma but by your own free will and conscious choice.


On a scale of 1-5 with 5 higher level of independent thinking, i am 5.

Answer 8

Consider for example the conifers and other trees likewise stay rooted firmly in the ground but their tops, their leaves and branches wave freely in the air. As a matter of fact there is nothing in life that can ever be done without certain amount of free thinking involved. It is impossible for human mind to follow exactly what has been prescribed by religion and laid out in the laws of society. We have tendency to deviate from even most closely held principles. The human nature is like general nature is evolutionary but it is at the same time seek to break free from the values and norms of society, and even from the admonitions of righteous self; we do thing that we know are harmful for us, but we take our chances. All human development to this day is due to people thinking what has never been thought of before. If all were to follow traditional wisdom nothing would have ever been discovered or explored.

There is no doubt that our minds are formed by the influences of the past and by all things we grasp, including our belief, customs, environment we live, culture education, parentage, people we interact with and our genetic inheritance. But what make all these ingredients into a person is our ability to think free as an individual; this is what makes us all unique and peculiar in a multitude of people around us. The ability to think freely therefore is not an option, it is what we do all the time, this is what makes us what we are. We do not disregard rights, rules, customs and tradition in the name of free thinking but we accept all these; we put all the things in our life, all the sources of acquisition of knowledge, into a meaningful arrangement.

Human mind is capable of intuitive thought, a thought that apparently comes out of the blue,but our intuitive thinking is not really from out of this world, it is in fact transcendental way of thinking, and it is well rooted into traditional way of thinking; at the base of it all are the concerns that we develop through our close and unquestionable adherence to what we believe has been right before us.

Answer 9

I'd give myself a 5. The gross generalizations in the political section of this site are very odd. They make the assumption that all liberals and all conservatives think exactly alike on every issue. Those person are a 1. I look at every issue independently, research it and decide for myself. I have never voted a straight party ticket in my life and never will. On political issues I range from extremely liberal to extremely conservative. I can generally see and understand both sides of all issues. When I feel I am sufficiently informed, I make my own decision. Independent thinking is "marching to the beat" of your own drum. It requires analyzing the issue and educating yourself to understand every viewpoint.

Answer 10

I'll admit that some of my thinking is the result of my belief system as a child, but I can tell you one thing for sure; I'm becoming more and more of an independant thinker as I get older. It's very liberating.

Answer 11

For my answer, an independent thinker is a person who can think and make informed decisions without getting a second opinion.and maybe some research at another time will confirm the independent ability to learn using one mind at the time.