When opinions are the premise rather than the result of a thinking process, something has gone pretty wrong … 

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I think therefore I am right.

That's, in essence, the sentiment that we see in many public discussions where

opinions feel more like the premise rather than the result of a thinking process.

“I am right” is a sentiment that you often find in people who believe that

being wrong is a sign of weakness.

You also find it in people who fear the consequences of not being right.

And maybe even fear change in general.

And so, they try to prevent this by insisting that they are right and that the

way that they are doing things is right.

In the most extreme cases, it's almost as if these people feel entitled to

owning the truth, almost as if the truth would have to bend according to their

opinion rather than the other way around.

“I think therefore I am right”, is a huge stretch from Decartes’

famous original insight, which was: “I think, therefore I am.”

Ironically, that statement was based on the inside that there's actually really

not much that he could be certain about.

It's the exact opposite of insisting to be right.

In fact, it's precisely the doubt that opens up new ways and shows

us new solutions to old problems.

That's why I believe that a better stance would be to say: “I think, therefore I