These days, it's common to hear people talk about thinking outside the box—thinking beyond conventions, beyond norms, beyond the mainstream, and so on. But what exactly does it mean to think beyond the mainstream?
An 18th-century philosopher, Immanuel Kant, once defined a critical attitude as the courage to think for oneself. In other words, when we face a problem, we don't immediately rely on existing opinions but instead try to formulate our own understanding.
Of course, thinking independently doesn't mean we disregard previous knowledge. In fact, one cannot truly think independently without having studied the thoughts of those who came before. But the essence of Kant's idea is this: we must have the courage to take our own stance, rather than simply repeating what others have said.
Critical Thinking is Not Always Disagreeing
Critical thinking doesn't mean constantly rejecting everything. Nor is it about becoming a contrarian for the sake of it. Critical thinking is not:
“If people say A, I must say not A. If people say B, I must say not B.”
A critical thinker is someone who can evaluate ideas independently—weighing the pros and cons, strengths and weaknesses—and decide for themselves what is most reasonable. So, critical thinking is not about being negative or reactive; it's about being thoughtful and mature when engaging with information and ideas.
Critical Thinking is Not Just Problem Solving
Critical thinking is also different from a purely end-result oriented mindset. That approach tends to focus on solving problems in the most practical way possible: there's a problem → find a solution.
But critical thinking often starts by questioning what we consider the problem to be in the first place. Maybe what we've long assumed to be the central issue is actually not the most fundamental one.
Critical thinking asks us to not blindly accept the problem as it's given—but instead to examine, and if necessary, redefine how we see the issue.
What Does "Thinking Outside the Box" Really Mean?
To think outside the box means not limiting ourselves to a single paradigm when analyzing an issue. The divisions we now know between fields like economics, politics, biology, and so on are historical constructs—created as part of the division of labor in educational institutions, not because those boundaries are naturally occurring.
Critical thinking invites us to go beyond those boxes, to explore problems from different perspectives. If one paradigm fails to provide an answer, that doesn't mean the problem is unanswerable—it might simply require a different lens.
Why Should It Be Taught Early?
If critical thinking is only introduced in college, it's often too late. By that age, most people have already solidified their worldview. They're less likely to experiment or try out new perspectives.
That's why, in many European countries like Germany, philosophy—a key tool for cultivating critical thinking—is taught in high school. At that stage, students are mature enough to reflect on their experiences, but still open-minded enough to question things and explore new ways of thinking.
Why Philosophy?
Philosophy doesn't rely on memorization. We don't need to memorize theory A, B, or C. What matters more is the ability to reason and understand ideas. Philosophy teaches us to:
- Listen to arguments.
- Grasp the essence of ideas.
- Respond in an original, thoughtful way.
In philosophy, we're not in a rush to solve problems. We learn to appreciate the question itself. For example, when discussing the nature of reality, we don't jump to answer, “Reality is A or B.” We begin by asking: what does nature even mean? What are the conditions under which we can know the nature of something?
This helps us develop the habit of delaying judgment, questioning assumptions, and thinking more deeply.
Knowing That You Don't Know
One of the most important figures in the history of philosophy once said:
“The wisest person is the one who knows that they do not know.”
— Socrates
People who study philosophy realize that they don't know everything. Meanwhile, those who never engage with philosophy often aren't even aware of what they don't know. They assume they understand everything—when in fact, they don't.
This awareness of ignorance is the root of critical thinking. From there comes the desire to learn, to ask questions, and to seek truth.
Learning to Doubt
Critical thinking also means learning to question conclusions made in haste. In conventional education, we are taught to give answers quickly. When we're wrong, we're punished. But life is rarely black and white—rarely simply right or wrong.
Philosophical thinking teaches us to approach thinking more calmly. To not rush to conclusions. To be comfortable with uncertainty. Often, the most meaningful answers are not the quickest ones, but those that come from deep reflection and well-reasoned arguments.
“Every answer can be valid—so long as the assumptions behind it are sound.”
That is the essence of critical thinking. It's not about being right—it's about being aware.