As I was reading the dialectical section of this chapter, I could not help but think about the advantages of this type of thinking. It allows people to weigh both the thesis and the antithesis, creating a world that is not so egocentric. Being able to see that other side is important for being able to hold one's tongue or speak one's mind when necessary.
I can see no better example than the fallout of the 2016 election where people are protesting the outcome. At first, I was confused. As a firm, unmoving anyone-but-Trump supporter, I was heartbroken and moderately terrified to realize that Trump won the election, but protesting had never passed through my mind. I wondered why these people were protesting, because Trump did go through the process fairly (although with more scandals and horrifying quotes than one could have ever expected). The system showed him and the winner, and it was strange to me that people were not accepting that as they had been in the past. However, after more research I realized how flawed our voting system is. The electoral college is an outdated systems, whose advantages the country has fully outgrown. Once I got all of the facts, then I began weighing the sides of the argument and realized that I cannot really blame these people for protesting a broken system. I understand why they are protesting and I hold a similar set of ideals as the protestors, but at the same time I can look at both sides and understand.
So, the true advantage to dialectical thinking, I think, is the ability to understand someone else- or a group of people. Through understanding we can come together and build a better system and work towards progress.
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