Core Guides: Critical Thinking

Critical Thinkers At CorePsych

Brain Science Evolves Beyond Appearances – It's A Process Not An Event

What we observe is not nature itself,                
but nature exposed to our method of questioning.
~ Werner Heisenberg

This page assembles experienced Core Critical Thinkers with the foresight to explain how fresh mind-science can find an improved application. While similar to Galileo in using technology with advanced perceptions to draw new maps through undiscovered territories, Core Critical Thinkers also lead us away from the current dogma of homogenized, categorical psychiatric labels.

Critical Thinkers, CorePsych, biomedical details, Neuroscience

Lewis, Clark & Sacagawea At Three Forks

Core answers require Critical Thinking vision – transcendent thinking to appreciate a more complete, humanized and ultimately customized biomedical awareness.

At the bottom of this page see a Video on Applied Critical Thinking regarding ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment. There I connect Galileo and others in a webinar that addresses how Critical Thinking contributes to our mind evolution with Executive Function Challenges.

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Our Collective Mind Problem: Categorical Thinking Vs Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking: CorePsych Article From 201

Take a moment to see how disciplined, creative thinking will encourage the likelihood of improved care for those afflicted with mental challenges. Solutions for these complex issues cannot find answers in additional polemics – such as ‘biology vs psychology,' or ‘feelings/affect vs thinking/cognition.' The next challenge: introduce neuroscience discoveries, immunity, brain imaging, molecular biology, measurable biological data will add to the useful understanding applied for decades. These Core Guides provide a vision for thinking about our next essential steps regarding data awareness.

As de Bono says in his brief video below, we're now at a point of “Ebne” – Excellent but not enough. We're quite good now at the static “What is” – but daily find a deficit in DSM 5 evolution with “What can be.” The current mind-identification process is dehumanizing and imprecise, at times. Let's move that complexity needle forward to improve outcomes. Critical Thinking will help all of us in mental health look a lot more like we know what we're doing.

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Galileo Galilei | 1564 – 1642

It is surely harmful to souls to make it a heresy to believe what is proved.
– Galileo

Called the Father of Modern Science, believed in evidence and measurement, and with the telescope understood how the Observation of Reality and Change… – how perceptions change dogma.

CorePsych: Our Galileo Moment in Psychiatry
The Galileo Affair ~ 1640: Wikipedia on Greek astronomer Aristarchus and, following that, biblical cosmology and geocentrism which agreed with a literal interpretation of the Scriptures in several places.

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Korzybski, Alfred | 1879-1950

Two important characteristics of maps should be noticed. A map is not the territory it represents, but, if correct, it has a similar structure to the territory, which accounts for its usefulness.
– Alfred Korzybski

Addresses how process and time, inherent change, remains denied or overlooked even in science. His contribution: Aristotelian thinking, engaged with labels, creates developmental arrest. The evolution of science exists in a dynamic Reality, beyond labels. Science and Sanity changed my life as a young medical intern in Grand Rapids, MI – back in '68-'69. Korzybski provides excellent reasons for looking more carefully at what is – beyond the time-binding appearance-labels of current diagnostic/treatment targets.

Korzybski Books:
Deep And Remarkable: Science and Sanity: An Introduction to Non-Aristotelian Systems and General Semantics – 1948
Highly Recommended: Selections from Science and Sanity: Second Edition – 2010
Korzybski Video on Abstractions: Reality and Illusion

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Edward de Bono | 1933 –

Most of the mistakes in thinking are inadequacies of perception rather than mistakes of logic.
– Edward de Bono

An internationally recognized leader with many interesting books on creativity, logic and critical thinking. See his brief video below on how we're caught in thought processes that live on since the Greek philosophers, and unwittingly attempt to keep out scientific evolution. I loved working with Edward one very memorable day in Dallas about '93 as a guest of his at Electronic Data Systems. Edward is a life-changer with proactive solutions, yet a common-sense, deeper perspective.

Video – de Bono Post At CorePsych: Link,  |  de Bono Page At CorePsych: Link
de Bono Books – 2 of 27:
I Am Right and You Are Wrong: On Water Logic – 1991
Six Thinking Hats – 1999 Highly recommended for managers at every level.
de Bono Video On Change: Perception, Dogma and Logic – Rethinking the Future

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Robert Sapolsky | 1957 –

There is no reason to be less moved by nature around us simply because it's revealed to have more layers of complexity than we first observed.
– Robert Sapolsky

Sapolsky is an American neuroendocrinologist, professor at Stanford in Biology, Neuroscience, and Neurosurgery, with lectures linked below on the evolution of neurobiology, the inhibitory relevance of reductionistic thinking as applied to neuroscience, and the relationship between chaos and reductionistic thinking. He's firmly in this group and his lectures, available on Audible, YouTube, and Amazon on these matters are linked below. He stands with the rest of these critical thinkers on the subject of dogma and neuroscientific evolution. Critical thinking addresses complexity.

Video – On Chaos and Reductionism [Neuroscientific thought evolves:] Link 
Video – TED: The Uniqueness of Humans
He Recommends Chaos: Making a New Science, by James Gleick, another interesting perspective – how very small things can make a remarkable difference. I agree, and strongly recommend: See this Gleick Video on Chaos and Science: Link
Sapolsky Books, this, one of several:
The Trouble With Testosterone

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Neil deGrasse Tyson | 1958 –

The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.
– Neil deGrasse Tyson

Tyson is an astrophysicist and thought leader on relevant science findings applied to everyday life. His remarks on Critical Thinking apply to psychiatric labels as well as global warming. Listen to his memorable interview on London Real – certainly a mentor to appreciate. Dr. Tyson is a “Brooklyn boy” with a big heart and a remarkably universal perspective.

Video – Tyson Post at CorePsych: Link – Discusses Cosmos & Understanding Reality
Video – Tyson on Epigenetics: YouTube Link
Tyson Books:
The Sky Is Not The Limit
Cosmology, Buddhist Thought, and Change

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Tomas Insel | 1951 –

One size doesn't fit all. The real question is, how do we predict who's going to respond? And how do we begin to individualize treatments, so they can ultimately be tailored to the person?
Thomas Insel

As Director of the National Institute of Mental Health Insel fully appreciates how limited we are in diagnostic and psychiatric treatment through the process of using only outdated thinking. NIMH recently discarded the useful but inadequate DSM 5 diagnostic manual as the code for fundamental research at NIMH. What a personable and thoughtful guy – stood up for SPECT imaging while others looked aside and didn't understand.

CorePsych Post On Insel: DSM 5 Needs Revision
Relevant Insel Articles:
Brief: DSM – 5 And The Biology of Psychiatry
Huffington Post: Brain Awareness
Dramatic Insel Video: Ted Talk at Cal Tech: Toward a New Understanding of Mental Illness

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Allen Frances | 1942 –

DSM-5 has neither been able to self correct nor willing to heed the advice of outsiders.
~ Allen Frances

Past Chair of Duke Dept of Psychiatry and Chair of DSM IV Diagnostic Group – Outspoken national authority on the inadequacy of DSM 5. Allen steps up to the plate in an admirable, balanced way. Let's keep our perspective and not throw the baby out with the bathwater. If the label is helpful, – why not use it in that useful capacity? However, if current labels fall short, miss evidenced-based biomedical functions, one should move forward to seek more details.

Frances Book:
Saving Normal: An Insider's Revolt Against Out-of-Control Psychiatric Diagnosis, DSM-5, Big Pharma, and the Medicalization of Ordinary Life – 2013
Relevant Articles:
Huffington Post: DSM 5 Is A Guide Not a Bible
Huffington Post: The Role Of Biological Testing – Balanced Review & Commentary
Frances Video: The Risks Of DSM 5

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William J. Walsh | 1942 –

The challenge is to carefully identify the specific nutrient overloads and deficiencies possessed by an individual, and to provide treatments that normalize blood and brain levels of these chemicals with rifle shot precision. This is the essence of biochemical therapy.
~ William Walsh

Dr. Walsh’s noted accomplishments include: (a) groundbreaking studies reporting reduced violent behavior following nutrient therapy, (b) the 1999 discovery of under-methylation and copper/zinc imbalances in autism, (c) the 2000 finding of metallothionein protein depletion in autism, (d) the 2007 published study linking copper overload and post-partum depression, (e) the identification of five biochemical subtypes of clinical depression, (f) the 2011 development of the Walsh Theory of Schizophrenia, and (g) the direction of the Beethoven Research Project that revealed that the composer suffered from severe lead poisoning – and the relationship of trace elements to enzyme balance in brain function.

Walsh Landmark Book – Revised & Highly Recommended:
Nutrient Power: Heal Your Biochemistry and Heal Your Brain
Walsh/CorePsych Biomedical Testing
– Walsh Resource Page – Posts and Videos @ CorePsych: http://corepsych.com/walsh-resources
Walsh Bio: Here
Walsh Non-Profit Training Institute for Medical Professionals: Oct 18-22 Chicago
Walsh Video: Short Sample Video on Copper Excess and Brain Function
Walsh's YouTube:  Video Channel:
Video Explaining The Role of Methylation and Epigenetics in Brain Disorders – 2 hr 17 mi

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No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.
~ Robin Williams

> More Critical Thinkers as time permits. On the shortlist:

Psychopharmacology: Stephen Stahl MD, PhD
Systems/Functional Medicine: Mark Hyman MD

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Goethe - evidence, details, seeing, knowing, critical thinking

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Comment

If you find these critical thinkers helpful for your next steps, please forward and leave a comment below.

cp
Dr. Charles Parker
Author: New ADHD Medication Rules – Brain Science & Common Sense
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