Critical Thinking: Between Humans and Machines

 

By Suad Nofal

In Arab societies, we live in an era marked by rapid transformations driven by technological advancements that permeate all aspects of life. These changes impose new challenges, especially regarding how knowledge is formed and accumulated. Cumulative knowledge is not merely a tool that enhances individuals' ability to understand themselves and the world around them—it is subjective and dependent on an individual’s personal journey toward building their world and advancing along the path of knowrology, which every person must undertake.

Recent transformations in cumulative knowledge, particularly in the past decade, have reshaped modern knowledge, making it more open and accessible than tradition knowledge, especially in the information age. Yet, a pivotal question arises: How can this knowledge revolutionize human consciousness?

 

The Time It Takes to Shape Societal Awareness

It takes 10–15 years, roughly the span of educating a single generation of children, to shape societal awareness and perspectives on life. Since 2013, we have witnessed the rise of digital technology, e-learning, microlearning, and, more recently, AI-powered learning. These advancements have opened up new opportunities for individuals to access information, share knowledge, and adapt to technological shifts.

However, in Arab societies, cumulative knowledge faces several challenges. For instance, when examining how individuals are socialized, they are often guided along a rigid path. Informal learning is not emphasized, and knowledge is often derived from static, rather than dynamic, sources. Formal education begins in school, accompanied by what is referred to as the “demoralization phase.” This phase could serve as an opportunity for individuals to become more aware and critical in their thinking, enabling them to engage with contemporary issues.

The deconstruction of society takes 10-15 years—the time needed to educate one generation of students. During this period, religions are replaced by sects that erode religious foundations or present their own versions of religion, attracting individuals to different ideologies and beliefs, such as an intolerant Islamic culture. Traditional organizations are replaced by fake ones, and natural bonds are dismantled and substituted with other groups, such as traditional media controlled by outdated customs, built on violence against women, and rooted in social norms that suppress freedoms. Thus, individuals derive their knowledge from these sources, with a focus on entering the job market, domestic economics, and sexual tendencies, rather than teaching them essential skills like critical thinking!

The focus is on entering university and obtaining a degree, which ultimately results in a piece of paper rather than genuine knowledge! Instead of teaching individuals how to think critically and analyze information, the emphasis is placed on acquiring certificates without gaining real knowledge. Now, individuals are expected to develop their skills early to compete, build their personal brand, and become influential figures! But where is the meaning in all of this?!

Subsequently, individuals follow a predefined societal script—marriage, child-rearing, and so on—where knowledge is rarely a priority. Social and economic factors drive life more than intellectual growth, resulting in a focus on the physical rather than the spiritual or existential aspects of ontology. True cumulative knowledge requires individuals to embark on a spiritual journey, grappling with existential and philosophical concepts, selecting knowledge that helps them understand themselves, others, and the world, ultimately achieving cumulative balance.

Moral education becomes essential in this context, as it involves self-discovery and the quest for human awareness. Meaning can only be created through achieving this awareness.

 

The Machine That Changed Human History and Shaped Consciousness

The invention of the computer, a machine that transformed human history, endowed humanity with the ability to think on new levels. However, this leap necessitated efforts to regulate human consciousness.

Post-computer invention, technological advancements began influencing human consciousness and the brain in unprecedented ways. Scientists and thinkers delved into understanding how to align the human brain and consciousness with these monumental technological shifts. Neuroscience has been instrumental in exploring how the brain processes information, paving the way for neural technologies that enable direct interaction with computers via brain signals.

The rise of digital technology, alongside platforms like Wikipedia that consolidate knowledge into a single, easily accessible repository, has played a pivotal role in knowrology. Digital media has offered diverse educational and scientific content to younger generations, helping shape independent media in the Arab world.

These developments have profoundly influenced how individuals think and interact with information. E-learning platforms like Edraak and Coursera, for instance, have made remote learning more accessible and effective, allowing individuals to study anytime and anywhere. Also learning techniques powered by artificial intelligence, which have become an integral part of e-learning programs, applications for teaching foreign languages have demonstrated unprecedented success in revolutionizing traditional language learning methods.

In addition to developing 21st-century skills, the use of social networks and websites contributes to teaching individuals essential abilities such as digital communication, time management, and organizing work in virtual environments. These skills play a crucial role in enabling individuals to adapt to the continuous technological transformations taking place.

Digital technology enhances individuals' cognitive abilities to process vast amounts of information. However, the brain faces challenges in maintaining focus in a fast-paced world, where selecting the most relevant and reliable information becomes essential. While digital technology enables navigation across multiple sources, analyzing different perspectives by using information sieve as a mechanism and making decisions, it necessitates critical thinking skills to evaluate, analyze, and distinguish between accurate and distorted information.

 

Critical thinking is an essential skill in the Information Age

In this rapidly evolving technological landscape, critical thinking has emerged as a crucial skill that distinguishes humans from machines. It is a pivotal topic in our modern era, as the influence of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly permeates our daily lives. Individuals must possess the ability for critical thinking and deep analysis, which involves information sieve, asking questions, and interpreting it based on cumulative knowledge and social circumstances. While machines rely on programming and algorithms designed for specific tasks, human thinking remains more flexible, requiring decision-making, intuition, and reasoning according to one’s knowledge.

Although machines have made remarkable advancements in analyzing data with unmatched speed and precision, their capacity for critical thinking is limited to the frameworks on which they are built. They depend primarily on the input data and predefined patterns within their algorithms. Interestingly, this is a positive reflection of scientific progress in designing patterns of critical thinking that may rival human capabilities—especially in an era where awareness and critical thinking skills seem to be in decline. However, machines fundamentally lack the ability to grasp complex contexts, moral nuances, or emotional responses in the same way humans do.

It can be said that human critical thinking continues to surpass machines in areas such as creativity, emotional analysis, and the ability to make undefined decisions. Meanwhile, machines excel in speed and accuracy when processing data and providing answers based on programmed patterns.

AI tools like ChatGPT can mimic aspects of critical thinking by analyzing data and generating responses based on patterns. However, true critical thinking requires self-awareness and the ability to deeply evaluate and analyze information—qualities that AI lacks.

To effectively use AI, individuals must develop strong critical thinking skills to assess and contextualize the information these tools provide. While AI can deliver fast, accurate insights, its outputs may contain biases inherent in its training data. Critical thinking enables individuals to identify these biases and make more informed decisions.

 

The Path Ahead

In our current era, we are witnessing massive technological advancements alongside significant social and political changes that deeply influence the cultural and societal environment of Arab communities. The stage of "moral deconstruction" plays a crucial role in rebuilding ethical values that are renewed and adaptable, rather than rigid, to align with contemporary realities. This process involves redefining concepts such as identity, social responsibility, justice, freedom, and the right to privacy, based on a new understanding of modern challenges and the development of ethical frameworks that are more compatible with cultural and technological transformations.

Since 2013, the rise of digital technology has significantly contributed to the evolution of human consciousness. However, the time to fully reap its benefits is yet to come. The answer may well lie in the next twenty years!