Forward vs. Backward Thinking

I've begun to wonder if there are only two different ways to think about truths in reality. The non-scientific mind tends to reason 'backwards' and scientists are trained to think 'forwards'. I believe 'forward thinking' is superior but it takes some work to explain why 'backward thinking' doesn't work yet appears, on the surface, to be legitimate.

I'll look at these two ways of thinking by imagining a murder scene:

Backward Thinking
The detective comes to the scene and sees a dead woman, a kitchen knife in her chest, lying in the living room. A crying man is sitting at the kitchen table with blood all over his shirt and hands shouting, "I killed her!" The detective decides that the man is most likely the killer and begins finding evidence to support his theory: signs of a struggle, the man's fingerprints on the knife, the next-door neighbour whispers that she always heard them arguing, they have high debts. The man is obviously guilty, no need to waste money doing more investigations, case closed.

Forward Thinking
Another detective enters the same scene and collects the same evidence. However, he then looks for other evidence as part of his routine: fingerprints are taken from all doors and windows, footsteps around the house are collected, tires marks on the driveway are analyzed, cigarette ashes are found on the floor but no ashtrays. This evidence suggests a third person was at the house recently (who the detective simply calls Mr. X). The detective formulates a theory - The man owed a debt to a shady character (Mr. X) who smoked. Mr. X entered the house and argued with the man and woman. Mr. X grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed the woman. The distraught man tried to remove the knife but couldn't and hugged the woman while she died. He blames her death on his debt to Mr. X. The detective has a valid theory but still requests more time to investigate further.

The backward thinker quickly forms a conclusion and seeks out evidence to support it. The forward thinker never assumes a conclusion and looks at ALL evidence to see where it leads.

This, I believe, is the fundamental trap that theists fall into. They become backward thinkers. They start with an obvious conclusion (god exists, Jesus lived, Mohammed was the final prophet) and look only for evidence to support it. Conflicting evidence is ignored or a twisted explanation is offered. They are not interested in changing their conclusion - they want to be right.

Forward thinkers don't assume any knowledge. They use a much more difficult mental process that forces them to base a conclusion on all available evidence - even if this conclusion conflicts with what they hoped was the right answer.

So, how do we teach a new generation to abandon backward thinking? Certainly more science education but teachers need to spend more time on the process (collecting evidence) and less time on giving the solution and asking students to confirm it. Even in literature studies teachers will point out what a character did (a conclusion) and ask students to find evidence for why they did it. Students need to be required to find evidence that also conflicts with a character's actions.

Critical thinking is an advanced form of forward thinking so teaching students to think forward may be the first step to raising a generation of truth-seekers.

Jehovah cut my brake line!

I finally have some definitive evidence that god is Jehovah and he cut my brake line! Allow me to explain:

I needed to replace the front stabilizer link on my van so I went to my dad's garage and fixed it. I took a spin around the block and everything was fine. I said, "Goodbye" to mom and was about to leave when two Jehovah's Witnesses came up the driveway. I couldn't resist so I walked out to talk to them.

They gave me the normal spiel, "We just want to give you some information..." and we talked about god. I was polite and challenged what they said. I told them I teach science and demand evidence for claims, etc., etc. It took a few minutes and they gave up on me and left.

I jumped back into the van, backed up, and when I pushed on the brake, it went to the floor! Now, the link that I replaced is close to the front brake line, but the leak was near the rear wheel on the opposite side of the van!

I can only conclude that Jehovah did not appreciate my arguments and cut my friggin' brake line. I'll have to rethink sending in my Humanist Association of Canada membership next year. Of all the religions out there, I'd never have guessed that the Jehovah's Witnesses were the one true religion....