- Verify Sources: Do not accept opinions as facts without verifying their sources and accuracy. It’s crucial to differentiate between informed perspectives and mere opinions.
- Scrutinize Free Advice: Exercise caution with free advice. Its quality often correlates with its cost, necessitating thorough evaluation before reliance.
- Beware of Biases: Be alert to discourteous or slanderous remarks about others. Such biases often indicate a lack of objectivity, potentially leading to misinformation.
- Neutral Information Gathering: When seeking information, avoid revealing your desired answer. This prevents influencing responses, as many tend to tailor their answers to please.
- Demand Proof: Accept only what can be proven. If there’s no evidence for something’s existence, it’s safer to assume it doesn’t exist.
- Develop Intuition for Truth: Acknowledge the inherent quality of truth and falsehood to reveal themselves. Cultivate the intuition to discern between them, enhancing your ability to identify authenticity.
- Challenge Unsubstantiated Claims: When faced with questionable statements, ask for evidence. This practice often exposes the reliability of the information and the credibility of its source.
These principles guide critical thinking and effective decision-making by emphasizing verification, objectivity, and evidence-based conclusions.