[ 思考方法的第一步:問問題 ]
教育局和考試局都認為學生應該發展出獨立批判的精神,
如果題目不能批判,怎可以稱為批判思維?
而且人類從科學發展中得到的經驗是:
問錯了問題,自然會得到錯誤的答案;
懂得問問題,問對了問題,往往事情就已經解決了一半。
「問問題」本身就是一種學問!
The greatest challenge to any thinker is stating
the problem in a way that will allow a solution.
( Bertrand Russell )
A problem well stated is a problem half solved.
( Charles Kettering )
In many scientific problems
the difficulty is to state the question rightly;
once that is done, it may almost answer itself.
( Jacob Bronowski, 1951 )
The formulation of a problem
is far more often essential than its solution,
which may be merely a matter of
mathematical or experimental skill.
To raise new questions, new possibilities,
to regard old problems from a new angle requires
creative imagination and marks real advance in science.
( Albert Einstein and Leopold Infeld )
It is a commonplace
that all research must start from a problem.
Research can be successful only if the problem is good;
it can be original only if the problem is original.
But how can one see a problem, any problem,
let alone a good and original problem ?
For to see a problem is to see something that is hidden.
It is to have an intimation of the coherence of
hitherto not comprehended particulars.
( Michael Polanyi, 1966 )
思考的錯誤會導致問錯了問題,
而問錯了問題有時亦會造成思考的錯誤。
「思考」和「問問題」,
其實就好像先有雞還是先有雞蛋的問題。
所以「問問題」的第一步就是要問:
「別人或自己提出的這個問題本身有沒有問題!」
因為很多時問問題的人不知道自己問的問題中,
有自相矛盾的部份,
不知道自己問的問題中,其實蘊含著未經證實的假設,
或者問問題的人學識不足,
根本就不清楚自己的思考有問題,
不清楚問題之中所用到的概念本身就有問題,
所以就提出了一條有問題的問題。
如果題目不能批判,怎可以稱為批判思維?
If thought corrupts language,
language can also corrupt thought.
( George Orwell )
我們是否同意:
培養學生清晰的思考和判斷是非對錯的能力,
是老師們兩種最重要的職責。
Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.
( Voltaire )