In democratic societies, thinking critically isn’t enough on its own. We need to ensure that people can take those skills and apply them to civic engagement - so they can challenge misinformation, participate meaningfully in discourse, and hold power to account.
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We need to teach people how to identify, understand and manage their emotions from a young age. Only then can they learn critical thinking skills. We no longer model emotional regulation in society and without those skills there is no critical thinking
People who don't learn it young give us what we have now.
eg someone applying “critical thinking” skepticism to mainstream vaccine info in order to dismiss it in favour of uncritical belief in anti-vax stuff?
As the OP makes clear, that's not sufficient by itself, but it's a necessary component.
I should explain: I have a lot of experience talking to cranks. They often stress the importance of critical thinking.
When I see people describe critical thinking, it often doesn’t seem to include anything that would stop cranks.
Despite the 'special relationship', the US is the antithesis of what Europe stands and strives for (with minor exceptions).
It's a similar argument with healthcare in the US
https://get.checkology.org/about/
https://www.voanews.com/amp/students-learn-news-is-real-or-fake/4353957.html
If only France decided to fund teacher's formation or professionnal interventions at school, meeting with journalists for pupils or training specialized teachers, not only 3h of "éducation aux médias et à l'information"...
Now it's far from enough.
As said, it could have been worse.
More local initiatives and better (critical!) press coverage are probably two other needed leverages