In these posts I have introduced the notion of a Thinker. A Thinker’s goal will be to optimize their mind by filling it, to the extent possible, with true beliefs. This goal will be accomplished by consciously engaging in open-minded critical thinking, and a Thinker’s mind-optimization program will have three regimens: mindcare, mindcleaning, and mind-expansion. Whereas the people I label as Feelers will tend to feel their way to conclusions, Thinkers will reach their conclusions by means of evidence-based structured reasoning.
Realize that we cannot determine whether someone is a Thinker or Feeler solely on the basis of the conclusions they have drawn. In particular, it is possible for a Feeler and Thinker to reach the same conclusion about an issue, with the former being guided by their heart or gut, and the latter being guided by their head. To determine where someone lies on the intellectual spectrum, we must instead examine the process by which they reached their conclusion. Where…