Critical Thinking Should Be Taught Like Mathematics and English
"Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think." — Albert Einstein
Artificial intelligence, nuclear weapons, biotech, mass surveillance—none of it is inherently catastrophic. It only becomes existential when powered by irrational human decision-making. That makes critical thinking education not just important—but arguably the most important defence system we have. Education systems often assume that students already know how to think, focusing instead on teaching them what to think. This approach is fundamentally flawed. Without the ability to reason, analyse, and question, even the most well-intentioned lessons—like anti-misogyny workshops—become redundant. They don't foster understanding; they create shallow compliance. The Netflix series Adolescence highlights this issue through its exploration of incel culture and misogyny, showing how toxic beliefs can take root in young minds when critical thinking is absent. If society truly wants to address these issues, critical thinking must be taught as rigorously—and as early—as mathematics or English, perhaps even earlier.
The Redundancy of Values-Based Education
The UK's consideration of anti-misogyny lessons in schools reflects a growing awareness of the dangers posed by incel culture and online misogyny. Shows like Adolescence have brought these issues into sharp focus, illustrating how adolescents are exposed to harmful ideologies that shape their beliefs and actions. Yet teaching students that misogyny is wrong without first equipping them with the tools to critically evaluate such ideas is futile. One cannot force someone to reason if they don't want to be reasoned with; critical thinking must be foundational, ingrained from an early age so that it becomes second nature.
The Paradox of Discouraging Inquiry
It's ironic—and paradoxical—that we often discourage critical thinking in children while claiming to value it in adults. Young children naturally ask "Why?" repeatedly, but instead of nurturing this curiosity, we tell them to stop questioning and accept things "as they are." This isn't arbitrary; over time, this suppression becomes internalised, and children eventually stop asking "Why?" altogether. By discouraging inquiry, we inadvertently teach them obedience over reasoning—a habit that persists into adulthood and leaves them vulnerable to manipulation.
This paradox undermines our ability to address societal issues like misogyny or extremism. If we want future generations to resist harmful ideologies, we must teach them how to think critically from young—before they learn multiplication tables or grammar rules. Critical thinking should be as foundational as mathematics or English, if not more so. It's the skill that gives all other subjects their meaning: mathematics teaches calculation; critical thinking teaches whether the calculation makes sense in the first place.
Teaching People How to Think
Critical thinking isn't just about identifying logical fallacies or evaluating evidence—it's about cultivating intellectual autonomy. It's a survival skill in a world flooded with misinformation and emotionally charged content designed to bypass rationality. Teaching people how to think means empowering them to:
- Question assumptions rather than accepting them at face value.
- Analyse arguments for coherence and evidence rather than emotional appeal.
- Reflect on their own biases and adjust their beliefs accordingly.
This isn't something that can be taught later in life; by adulthood, thinking habits are already baked in. Waiting until university or beyond is like trying to install a foundation after building a house—it's too late. Instead, critical thinking must be woven into education from the very beginning, integrated into every subject:
- In mathematics: Teach statistical literacy alongside problem-solving (e.g., How can averages mislead?).
- In English: Analyse rhetorical devices not just in literature but in social media posts and political speeches.
- In history: Encourage students to critique primary sources and question narratives shaped by power dynamics.
The Existential Imperative
Without critical thinking, society is left vulnerable—not just intellectually but morally and politically. As Adolescence demonstrates, toxic ideologies thrive in environments where reasoning is absent, shaping beliefs through emotional manipulation rather than evidence-based understanding. The same applies on a larger scale: irrational minds wielding tools like artificial intelligence or biotechnology pose existential risks precisely because they lack the ability—or willingness—to think critically.
By institutionalising critical thinking as a core subject taught from early childhood, we can equip future generations with the cognitive tools needed to confront challenges ranging from online misogyny to global crises. It's not just an educational reform—it's an existential necessity.
Conclusion
Teaching people how to think is far more important than teaching them what to think. Values-based education without critical thinking is redundant; it assumes reasoning skills that many students don't possess and fails when those values are challenged later in life. To truly address societal issues like misogyny or extremism, we must make critical thinking as foundational as mathematics—perhaps even more so—and start teaching it at the age of five. Only then can we nurture minds capable of questioning assumptions, evaluating evidence, and resisting manipulation—a skillset essential for navigating an increasingly complex world.