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USA Edition | Today Is Wednesday, June 19, 2013 |
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Socratic Warning
Newsroom Magazine
May Challenge
Or Demand
Critical Thinking
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The intellectual roots of critical thinking date back to the Greek philosophers.
Socrates discovered, by means of probing questions, that in the exchange of competing ideas, people sometimes make confident claims based on unreliable assumptions or failed logic.
Such arguments, he discovered, were either erroneous in fact, absent sufficient foundation, or failing in logic. Instead, most arguments were based on confused meanings, inadequate evidence, or contradictory beliefs.
Socrates' contributions to critical thinking were many -- for he established new ways to think about contentious issues in terms of the quality of assumptions, facts and logic.
Thus Socrates demonstrated that persons may have passion, or power or high position but yet be deeply confused and irrational.
Good journalism, like compelling debate, is based on a clear understanding of facts and the logical construction of one's argument. And that is what the Socratic Method and The Sophist Tradition is all about.
Evidentiary Approach
The Socratic Method is the preferred way to examine issues.In the Socratic mode of questioning, postulations, ideas or arguments are examined for their clarity and logical consistency by systematic analysis of facts, assumptions and logical methodology to support a conclusion.
Socratic analysis is accomplished by means of a series of probing questions that systematically examine the quality of an argument or conclusion.
Understanding the quality of information, argument or one's conclusions, is fundamental to critical thinking -- and the goal of critical editing.
Historical Foundation
Socrates’ practice was followed by the critical thinking of Plato (who recorded Socrates’ thought), Aristotle, and the Greek skeptics, all of whom emphasized that things are often very different from what they appear to be.Only the trained mind is prepared to see through the way things look to us on the surface (delusive appearances) to the way they really are beneath the surface (the deeper realities of life.)
From this ancient Greek tradition emerged the need, for anyone who aspired to understand the deeper realities, to think systematically, to trace implications broadly and deeply; for only thinking that is comprehensive, well-reasoned, and responsive to objections can take us beyond the surface.
Means Of Analysis
The common denominators of Critical Thinking requires, for example, the systematic monitoring of thought; that thinking, to be critical, must not be accepted at face value, but must be analyzed and assessed for its clarity, accuracy, relevance, depth, breadth, and logical validity. All reasoning occurs within points of view and frames of reference.All reasoning proceeds from some goals, objectives, and has an informational base. All data, when used in reasoning, must be interpreted. That interpretation involves concepts, that concepts entail assumptions, and that all basic inferences in thought have implications, and each of these dimensions of thinking need to be monitored where problems of thinking can occur.
Questioning Chain
The result of the collective contribution of the history of critical thought is that the basic questions of Socrates can now be much more powerfully and focally framed.In every domain of human thought, and within every use of reasoning within any domain, it is now possible to question:
• ends and objectives
• the status and wording of questions
• the sources of information and fact
• the method and quality of information collection
• the mode of judgment and reasoning used
• the concepts that make that reasoning possible
• the assumptions that underlie concepts in use
• the implications that follow from their use
• the point of view or frame of reference within which reasoning takes place
Jeffrey Slee
Logician
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SMEs find it particularly difficult to stand up for their right to prompt payment. Late payments mean SMEs lose time and money, and disputes can sour relations with customers. This damaging late payment culture has to end. It is now time for Member States to implement the Late Payments Directive into their national law – giving SMEs the vital support they need in these difficult times and helping them fulfil their key role in European job creation.
Brussels
SMEs: Damaging Late Payment Culture Due To End On 16 March
March 12, 2013
Every day across Europe, dozens of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) go bankrupt as their invoices are not paid. As a result jobs are lost and business opportunities remain unexploited, stalling our return to economic growth. To end late payments the European Union therefore adopted Directive 2011/7/EU on combating late payment in commercial transactions. By 16th March 2013 Member States will need to have integrated the revised Late Payments Directive into their national law. It obliges public authorities to pay for goods and services within 30 calendar days or, in very exceptional circumstances, within 60 days. Businesses should pay their invoices within 60 calendar days, unless they expressly agree otherwise and if it is not grossly unfair to the creditor.
European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, said: “SMEs find it particularly difficult to stand up for their right to prompt payment. Late payments mean SMEs lose time and money, and disputes can sour relations with customers. This damaging late payment culture has to end. It is now time for Member States to implement the Late Payments Directive into their national law – giving SMEs the vital support they need in these difficult times and helping them fulfil their key role in European job creation.”
More information on the Late Payments Directive and information seminars in Member States
The new rules are simple:
- Public authorities must pay for the goods and services that they procure within 30 calendar days or, in very exceptional circumstances, within 60 calendar days.
- Contractual freedom in businesses commercial transactions: Enterprises should pay their invoices within 60 calendar days, unless they expressly agree otherwise and if it is not grossly unfair to the creditor.
- Enterprises are automatically entitled to claim interest for late payments and can also automatically obtain a minimum fixed amount of €40 as a compensation for payment recovery costs. They can also claim compensation for all remaining reasonable recovery costs.
- The statutory interest rate for late payment is increased to at least 8 percentage points above the European Central Bank’s reference rate. Public authorities are not allowed to fix an interest rate for late payment below this threshold.
- Enterprises can challenge grossly unfair terms and practices more easily before national courts.
- More transparency and awareness raising: Member States must publish the interest rates for late payment so that all parties involved are informed.
- Member States are encouraged to establish prompt payment codes of practice.
- Member States may continue to maintain or to bring into force laws and regulations which are more favourable to the creditor than the provisions of the Directive.
The new measures are optional for enterprises, insofar as they acquire the right to take action but are not obliged to do so. In some circumstances, a business may wish to extend the payment period for some days or weeks to keep a good commercial relationship with a specific client. But the new measures are obligatory for public authorities. They should lead by example and show their reliability and efficiency by honouring their contracts.
Background
The European Late Payment Directive was designed to combat late payment of commercial transactions. Its parent act, the Small Business Act (SBA), reflects the Commission’s will to recognise the central role of SMEs in the EU economy and stressed that effective access to finance is one of the major challenges faced by SMEs (MEMO/12/742).
