Metacognition And Philosophy

Written By Colēgia

Metacognition, or thinking about thinking, has a lot more in common with philosophy than we might expect. Similar to how philosophy tries to ask questions relating to common topics and our role with them, metacognition challenges us to re-frame how we view these things. One of the best examples of this is the Socratic method which effectively helps us break down more complicated topics by seeking the truth. Today we want to talk about how these two concepts are closer than we think.

The Socratic Method

The Socratic method uses dialogue that helps both parties try to understand one another through careful examination of thoughts and beliefs to find the truth. This can be considered a form of argument in the sense that both sides are sharing their views. The key thing of note is that neither side is trying to prove their point or necessarily persuade someone else to think differently. Rather, it's a means of cooperating with someone else to try and see what the truth about something is along with seeing the biases in between. This is an extremely helpful means of communication since when done right it can help both sides work together to achieve positive results and understanding. Empathy also plays a role in this since it requires us to put ourselves in someone else's shoes to see where they're coming from.

“Rather, it's a means of cooperating with someone else to try and see what the truth about something is along with seeing the biases in between.”

Where Does Metacognition Fit?

Being able to consciously consider our thoughts and how they fit into the grand scheme is an important skill. One helpful thing to consider is whether our thoughts on something are what we truly believe, or because they're influenced by the culture we're part of. There's not necessarily a wrong answer since it can be a combination of many different factors but it's something to keep in mind. A good example of this is asking why you feel so strongly about certain topics. Is it because of personal experience or is it a matter of your morals? Certain things can only be answered by ourselves and our own thoughts and there is a time and place for this. Other times though it's worth working together with others to try and find out why we think certain ways.

“Being able to consciously consider our thoughts and how they fit into the grand scheme is an important skill.”

Putting The Two Together

If metacognition requires us to reflect on why we think the way we do, the Socratic method challenges us to find validity in these thoughts to acknowledge our own truths. Building critical thinking skills is by far one of the most useful reasons to try and use these two topics in tandem. Metacognition allows us to bring to light a form of self-awareness that we need to help us be more informed about our own point of view. The Socratic method helps us practically apply this knowledge with others so that we can adopt a more fair mindset with how we view the world. Being able to break down our own perspective is useful since it can let us know whether or not we're seeing things in a fair and truthful way.

Colēgia

Colēgia

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