What does it mean to think critically?

Most of us were told to think critically at school. Almost none of us were taught how.

That gap was always there. It's just that now you're making hundreds of decisions a day inside systems specifically designed to exploit it. Feeds that reward reaction over reflection, content that's optimised to feel true rather than be true, and AI that can generate a convincing argument for almost anything. The cost of not thinking carefully has never been higher. Neither has the pressure not to bother. In this discussion, we visit this topic with the intent of simply thinking about it, because we believe this is the first step against a quiet avoidance of a very real problem.

Some questions we'll be sitting with:

• When did someone last genuinely change your mind — and what did it take?
• Is there a difference between thinking critically and just being difficult?
• Are you choosing what to learn based on who you are, or who you think you should be?
• How is AI changing the way you think?
• Can you think clearly about something you care deeply about?
• What would you believe differently if you'd grown up somewhere else?

What to expect
The format is conversational. We sit in a circle. There's a short provocation to open ie a reading, a question, a claim worth disputing. Then we talk. A facilitator keeps things moving and honest. Sessions run two hours.
This is Session One. It's free. Seating is intentionally capped at 20 so the conversation stays real. Come with an open mind and connect with like-minded people.

The Postmodern Place is a monthly discussion community for people who want to engage seriously with ideas. Philosophy, society, culture, the forces shaping how we live. We read carefully, argue honestly, and try to leave with a clearer picture than when we walked in.
No academic background required. No prior reading necessary. The only thing you need to bring is a willingness to think out loud with strangers.