Humanist Perspectives: issue 150, Education & Critical Thinking

editorial
Reason Over Passion by Gary Bauslaugh: Bauslaugh looks at the meaning of critical thinking, and describes it as being “at the heart of humanism.”
letters from our readers
Letters
the world around us
an interview with Pat Duffy Hutcheon by Theo Meijer: One of the leading figures in Canadian humanism discusses her life and work.

the BCHA World Views Project by Ernest Poser: Poser reviews his efforts, on behalf of the BC Humanist Association, to work with religious leaders to promote tolerance and respect for diversity.
Theory of Knowledge in Schools by Theo Meijer: Meijer writes about teaching a Theory of Knowledge course as part of the International Baccalaureate program for secondary students.

Liberal Studies with Anne Leavitt & Earl Shorris: Leavitt and Shorris discuss the real value of liberal studies programs — in learning “to see anew … the student who spends time in the grasp of Sophocles or Kant is the one with the most practical education.”
Critical Thinking in Schools by Peter Hennessey: Schools put too strong an emphasis on conformity and memorization rather than diversity and imagination.
the Competent Layperson by Mark Battersby: The real task of post-secondary education is not so much to turn us into experts in one particular subject, as to prepare us for a lifetime of intelligent decision-making in areas in which we are non-experts.

the Darwinian Mind: Making Human Nature Natural, part 2 by Robert Weyant: Part 2 of Weyant’s four-part series on Darwin looks at how Darwin saw the human mind. This article was a finalist for a Western Magazine Award.

things that go bump
Thinking Critically by James Alcock: Alcock looks at factors that commonly distract us from disciplined critical inquitry.
practical philosophy
Surfing & Thinking by Trudy Govier: What is the role of critical thinking in a world in which the internet has become the prime research tool? Govier argues that problems regarding credibility, accuracy and cogency are not alleviated by computers, but perhaps exacerbated.
films
the New Face of Revolution by Shirley Goldberg: Golberg sees the emergence of documentary films as “an alternate form of social communication” that thrive in troubled times. She writes about Michael Moore’s films and others such as The Corporation, Super Size Me, Capturing the Friedmans, and The Fog of War.

books
Time Traveling with Science & the Saints edited by Ian Johnston: Maren Kasulke reviews George A Erikson’s book Time Traveling with Science & the Saints.
Atheist Reality & the Brain edited by Ian Johnston: Catherine Ousey reviews Maurice de Bona Jr’s Atheist Reality & the Brain: a summary of atheistic thought related to the scientific knowledge of how the brain functions.
Why the Greeks Matter reviewed by Ian Johnston: Ian Johnston reviews Thomas Cahill’s Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter.

children’s books
Children & War by Gwyneth Evans: Evans looks at some of the ways in which children’s books address the subject of war.

Do Dogs have Souls? by Mike Matthews: Matthews denies having a soul, but what about his lovely dog?