Humans take pride in their superior cognitive abilities, believing that our ability to engage in higher-level thinking sets us apart from all other living beings. This cognitive capacity has indeed been instrumental in our advancements, enabling us to develop complex theories, explore the cosmos, and create works of art and literature. However, despite our collective achievements, a troubling truth emerges: most humans fall short when it comes to complex reasoning and critical thinking.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that the average person’s ability to comprehend sophisticated arguments is lacking. Mathematics and literary classics are often met with fear or disinterest due to their perceived difficulty. While it is understandable to have preferences, such negative reactions may also indicate a lack of cognitive capacity to fully appreciate these subjects. This widespread cognitive weakness is a cause for concern, as it limits individuals to a subpar intellectual existence with significant consequences.
The costs of poor human cognition are substantial. In knowledge-driven societies, the inability to think coherently hinders progress and development. As technology and organizational complexity increase, those who cannot adequately process information risk being left behind. Cognitive weakness also has detrimental effects on individuals, limiting their ability to participate meaningfully in modern socio-economic systems. Furthermore, poor human cognition creates negative externalities, impacting society as a whole. Public discourse suffers when complex issues are not given the careful consideration they require, leading to the prevalence of social stereotypes and prejudices. Cognitive biases and heuristics in unexamined subconscious thinking contribute to these societal challenges.
Historically, human cognition was less emphasized than physical strength. However, the Industrial Revolution shifted the focus to mental faculties, and today, with the advent of Artificial Intelligence, higher-order thinking skills are becoming even more critical. To remain relevant and maintain a sense of self-worth, humans must develop these faculties. Universalization of higher-level cognitive training is the need of the hour.
The modern education system has made significant strides in upgrading our intellectual abilities, but for most people, formal cognitive training ends with schooling. This is insufficient for the demands of the 21st century. To address this gap, introducing ‘human cognition’ as a compulsory subject from class VI onwards would be a valuable step. This subject would draw on psychology, linguistics, and anthropology to teach students about the processes involved in their thinking. By bringing the act of thinking into the conscious realm, meta-cognition empowers students to analyze their own thoughts and the thoughts of others, enhancing their intellectual productivity and empathy.
Bertrand Russell famously said, ‘most people would rather die than think – in fact, they do so.’ This observation highlights the common human frailty of poor thinking. The first step in addressing any problem is recognizing its existence. It is time to acknowledge deficient human cognition as a public policy issue that negatively impacts economic productivity, social harmony, and good governance. By identifying appropriate interventions, such as the introduction of ‘human cognition’ in education, we can work towards remedying this issue and unlocking the full potential of human cognition.
