Submitting Oneself to the Given Experience
In the realm of personal development and critical thinking, author Wright Thompson offers a unique approach inspired by the concept of "red teaming" from cybersecurity. This method, as outlined in his book, "The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi," encourages individuals to actively challenge and test their own beliefs, assumptions, and preconceived notions to avoid cognitive biases and incorrect conclusions.
Thompson's use of red teaming is analogous to introspection and belief evaluation, promoting cognitive clarity and resilience against faulty assumptions. To practice this method, one should:
- Treat one's own beliefs as hypotheses to be rigorously tested.
- Play devil's advocate deliberately to expose biases.
- Seek disconfirming evidence seriously.
- Remain open to revising one's views based on this critical self-scrutiny.
This cognitive exercise builds mental discipline against biases and leads to more accurate, grounded understanding.
The importance of challenging one's own assumptions is not a new concept. Ancient philosophers such as Seneca and Marcus Aurelius were advocates of this practice. Marcus Aurelius, for instance, valued people who disagreed with him or corrected him, a rarity for an emperor in his time. He wrote that he would gladly change his beliefs if anyone could refute him, as he was seeking the truth.
In line with this tradition, Thompson emphasizes the importance of interrogating one's thoughts, views, and understanding of the facts. Reading from rival schools is another practice suggested by Seneca to combat cognitive biases.
Thompson's book, "The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi," is highly recommended. The podcast episode featuring Wright Thompson is also available for watching and listening, where he emphasizes the importance of red teaming one's beliefs to avoid preconceived notions or incorrect assumptions.
In a unique twist, Thompson sent certain details to Katie King for fact-checking and asked her to "red-team" them, meaning to find evidence against them. During their research process, they even rented a house for a fact-check week, spending a week tearing it apart to verify the details.
By practicing red teaming, one can ensure a more balanced, critical perspective and reduce the risk of falling into error or bias. This approach, originally a security practice to find vulnerabilities by thinking like an opponent, can now be applied to personal beliefs to promote cognitive clarity and resilience against faulty assumptions.
Engaging in red teaming, as advocated by author Wright Thompson, is a key component of education-and-self-development for achieving personal-growth. This practice, rooted in questioning and challenging one's beliefs and assumptions, helps build resilience against cognitive biases and fosters a more accurate, grounded understanding.
