Critiques, Critics, and Critical Thinking
Does “wokeness” just mean critical thinking?
If so, I’m guilty.
My introduction to historical criticism was in seminary Bible studies. We learned hermeneutics or the study of interpretation of the sacred scriptures of Jews and Christians, of Hindus and Buddhists, and the stories of the “natural” religions. I had to switch gears to realize that criticism is not primarily a negative thing as any art or book critic can tell you. Critical thinking means getting to the meaning of human expressions and beliefs for then and for today.
To understand the writings, and especially ancient and culturally foreigns stories that comprise those writings, we rebuild the circumstances, contexts, culture, languages, and intentionalities of the writers who gathered these stories. We don’t take the stories and creeds and maxims “literally,” which means as a one to one translation for our space and time. To understand them (even if written in stone) for our space and time, we need to get into the language, perspective, interests, and minds of the speaker and writers who produced them.
And then do our best, consulting experts in hermeneutics, to interpret these writings into the language and intentions of our space and time. Historical, biblical, anthropological, and judicial scholars are experts (or should be experts) in critical thinking. This often of course puts science (which is the height of critical thinking) in opposition to beliefs of believers who call scientists heretics.
“Critical” comes from the Greek word for judgment and choice, Xrisis. To think critically (which I say is an oxymoron) means to reflect on what the critics find useful as well as misleading to serve the intentions and interests for and justice to their situation.
Jurisprudence needs to be especially diligent in interpreting laws. What is called originalism and textualism in making judgment tends to literalism and positivism in judging an action or interpreting law and thus avoiding consideration of hermeneutics. Just as does an “orthodox” or “old time religion”preacher who neglects the human contribution in understanding and acting in the world. Just as does an authoritarian ruler.