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The End of Thinking

Author: Dr Mark Stephens
Format: Soft cover

What were you thinking? We all feel entitled to our opinion. Whether it be our take on politics, vaccines, parenting, or the value of religion, everybody wants to have their say – and everybody loves to be right.

But do we know what it means to think well? Covering ‘idiot brain’, lobotomies, the difference between certainty and confidence, the nature of facts, and the virtue of intellectual hospitality, Mark Stephens invites you to consider not just what you think but how and why you think.

Do we think only for ourselves or also for the good of others?

This book is part of the Re:Considering Series by the Centre for Public Christianity.

Available at:

About the book:
Table of contents:

Introduction: One Night In Tennessee
What were you thinking?

1. A Thousand Ways To Fall
Philosophy
Psychology
Statistics
A better way to fail

2. No, You’re Not Entitled To Your Opinion
Just the facts?
You know what I think.
Ideas are power
The problem of disrespect
A better way to share opinions.

3. Putting Experts In Their Place
Everybody’s an expert
Putting too much faith in experts
A better expertise: The value of intellectual humility

4. Finding Confidence, Not Certainty
The way to confidence.
The advantages of confidence.
A better confidence: Intellectual courage.

5. The Character Of A Thinker: Humility, Hospitality, Love
The virtue of thinking
Humility
Hospitality
Love

Conclusion: Confessions Of An Imperfect Friend

Notes

Reviews:
"This clear, humorous and insightful book will help clear up your thinking, or at least help clear up the 'you' in your thinking. Mark writes about the hard questions of contemporary discourse with learning, courage and grace - a wonderful antidote to the vitriol of the culture wars awaits you!"
Gordon Menzies, Author of Western Fundamentalism & Associate Professor of Economics, UTS, Sydney
"Do I think well? I think so! Hang on – not so fast! Mark Stephens, in his interesting and racy little book, gets us to think about thinking, or, to be more specific; to think about the fact that most of us don’t think – not much anyway, as it is too difficult, and too confronting. Instead, we look for threads which will confirm our prejudices, we are led by intuition, not reason. Additionally, we confuse correlation with causation, we overestimate our own competence, we allow experts in one field to bracket-creep their judgements into areas beyond their competence. Does it matter? Well yes, just as conviction needs to be based on reasonable evidence, epistemic humility is preferable towards those whose opinions differ. Is this book worth the trouble of thinking about? I think so!"
John Collier, Former Head of St. Andrew’s Cathedral School
"During a time when we are surrounded by conflicting opinions, Mark directs us not to give up on thinking, but to dig deeper into the complexity of important issues with humility. Not only that, but his book reminds us that deep thought is not a purely recreational pursuit, but is instead a way to benefit one's community."
Dr Erin Devers, Professor of Psychology at Indiana Wesleyan University
About the author:
Learn more about Mark
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