The Erosion of Critical Thinking During the COVID-19 Crisis
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In our contemporary world, we are inundated with an overwhelming amount of news and media coverage from every corner of the globe.
The accuracy of this information often seems secondary to the volume of voices vying for attention, doesn't it? There exists a constant struggle among various groups aiming to enforce their beliefs on others, akin to the behavior of a bully on a playground.
Supporters of these factions passionately advocate for their causes, sometimes losing sight of the original reasons for their involvement. Take abortion, for instance; numerous pro-life and pro-choice organizations engage in heated debates over the legality and morality of the procedure. Individuals who choose to terminate a pregnancy, regardless of their reasons, can become targets of social ostracism from pro-life advocates, while those who criticize abortion face backlash from pro-choice supporters.
Amidst this turmoil, one must wonder: do any of these factions pause to consider how to assist those grappling with uncertainty and distress regarding their choices about abortion?
Herein Lies the Dilemma
We often become so absorbed in the minutiae of "how" that we neglect the "why," leading to a decline in our critical thinking capabilities. As highlighted by SkillsYouNeed.com:
> Critical thinking fundamentally involves using your reasoning abilities. It emphasizes being an active learner rather than merely passively receiving information.
Critical thinkers challenge ideas and assumptions, refusing to accept them without scrutiny. They strive to grasp whether the arguments and evidence presented provide a comprehensive understanding and remain open to discovering they may not.
Moreover, critical thinkers systematically identify, analyze, and resolve problems rather than relying solely on intuition.
These skills are desperately needed, particularly in the context of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. We understand that wearing masks can significantly mitigate the transmission of respiratory droplets, and maintaining social distance is crucial to limiting the spread of infection.
Yet, in Melbourne, Australia, where a second lockdown was necessitated by a surge in COVID-19 cases and mask-wearing became mandatory outdoors, some individuals still refuse to comply, as shown in the video below:
Despite overwhelming evidence supporting the efficacy of masks in reducing virus transmission, certain individuals remain convinced that the COVID-19 pandemic is overstated. They assert their "rights" to forgo masks, attend COVID parties, and even risk contracting the virus, sometimes with fatal consequences, as seen in the case of a 30-year-old who dismissed the disease as a hoax.
This underscores a dangerous misconception: believing one is invulnerable can lead to dire outcomes, including loss of life.
The Role of Critical Thinking
Understanding how the virus spreads and replicates within the body is essential. As I discussed in "5 Things For Consideration In Addressing Viral Infections," viral infections follow a sequential process:
- The virus enters the body.
- It infects a cell and reprograms it to produce copies of its RNA/DNA, which can then infect other healthy cells, leading to exponential replication.
- Infected cells continue producing viral copies until antibodies identify them and induce cell death through apoptosis.
- The dead cells signal phagocytes to engulf and digest them, a process known as phagocytosis, allowing new cells to replace the dead ones.
- If phagocytosis lags behind the infection rate, pro-inflammatory signals can trigger additional immune responses to eliminate the infected cells.
The virus can infiltrate the body through various pathways, taking control of our cells to replicate itself (Stages 1-3). Nevertheless, the body maintains a dynamic balance. A robust immune system prevents uncontrolled infection, generating antibodies that tag infected cells for destruction (Stage 3) and phagocytes that clear away dead cells (Stage 4).
If the clearance mechanisms falter, the accumulation of infected cells can lead to inflammatory signals, potentially resulting in a cytokine storm—a severe immune response that can cause significant harm or death.
The Remaining Questions
Why should we maintain physical distance from others? Why is it prudent to wear masks outdoors?
The answer is simple: we want to avoid the risk of premature death!
Even with a well-functioning immune system bolstered by proper nutrition, such as the production of immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies that help prevent infection, one cannot assume immunity to COVID-19. I diligently consume beneficial probiotics like Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG to promote IgA production, but this does not exempt me from the risk of infection.
Now is not the time for complacency regarding our health. It is essential to think critically and make informed choices that ensure we can achieve the best possible quality of life during this crisis.
This article was originally published on Vocal.
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Joel Yong, PhD, is a biochemical engineer, educator, and author. He has published an ebook available on Amazon.com and co-authored six peer-reviewed journal articles. His focus is on elucidating biochemical mechanisms for general understanding. Connect with him on his website.