Critique is not Insult

    Being a philosophy major has immersed me in the world of thoughts and thinking. And undeniably I came across a magnum opus such as Kant’s “Critique of Pure Reason”, Marx’s short but meaty “To Make the World Philosophical – Ruthless Criticism to Everything Existing”, Sartre’s voluminous “Critique of Dialectical Reason”, Marx’s essential “Critique to Hegel’s Philosophy of Right” and the list goes on. Even without the word critique in the title, philosophers still give critiques within their works. You can have Nietzsche’s critique of Europe and Christianity which you can find in his “The Anti-Christ” or any of Kierkegaard’s books critiquing Hegel. Critique has made it possible to help reevaluate anything under its gaze which can even lead to new thoughts, realizations, or even creates new perspectives with the goal of achieving truth. However, critique is scorned upon by those who mistake being criticized as being insulted.

    Hurling insults at someone is attacking the person more than the issue. If a person made a statement, action, or product which is unlikeable, yet the approach is to maul the person with attacks to his or her persona rather than dealing with what he or she has said, acted, or made, then this is an insult. If a person did bad at governing, and if the reactions towards such incident are only focused on calling the person at fault with many names without clearly laying down an analysis of the problems created, then that is simply a show of distaste together with hurling insults. Again, it is simply human to call the object of dislike with names, but it is unproductive as well to hurl something without paving illumination to the problem even though solutions are still difficult to find. It does not mean that one cannot call out errors if one cannot provide solutions. The first step in finding solutions or something better starts first in clearly understanding the problem. And solutions are not stones from heaven that fall to the skulls of walking problems, they have to be extracted from a thorough understanding of the situation. Critique is highlighting errors, problems, and lapses and looking at things from all angles to make necessary thoughts and actions towards finding higher and or better ground. Insults are just name-calling. Critique is more of analysis leading towards possibilities – a blend of critical and creative thinking.

    I cannot deny that I will feel attacked if I am insulted because it is simply human to feel enraged and hurt. But, if one critiques, I must be at the full human capacity to listen and engage with such. Engaging in full human capacity to listen, reflect, and THINK makes critique alive and function towards finding better ground because the persons who engage are willing to elevate the current situation. Filipinos often mistake critique as an insult. If a substantial exposition of error is given to one, he or she feels attacked because he or she does not want to go beyond the work that they have already given. Spewing lines “all the hard work behind it, and still, there is critique”, is erroneous. Hard work cannot be equated to the actual value of the critiqued object. Just because I worked hard with a sculpture does not mean that I have a free pass or to be exempted from a critique from the master and the audience. I cannot even say to my adviser that I worked hard for my thesis; thus, it is deserving to pass minus panel critiquing if contents are obviously at fault or in lack. Hard work is recognized, but what is hard work if it does meet the intended goals? Does critique undo hard work? No! Actually, it compliments it in order to attain goals. And Filipinos are still far from distinguishing between name-calling and critiques.

    Sad to say that even in the academic set-up, with people who supposedly must be thinkers or with adept rational capacity, abhor criticism and places emphasis on obedience and acceptance. True that sometimes one cannot alter the current situation by the blink of an eye, but surrendering reason is in itself a huge spat to a possible better future we can still make. More so, they think that due to their titles, they are free from critique’s sharp edge. If we simply say that this person is a Master Teacher; thus, he or she is qualified to do this. And if errors are present and possible solutions can be aired out, we need to keep shut because he or she worked hard for it or he or she is in such a position. Errors are errors regardless of position. And if they are in such a position, all the more the burden of responsibility to listen to all sides of the coin to provide of quality what they are qualified for is ever present!

    Critiques can be well managed if the community is open to it and has an active head towards thinking of possibilities and for the better. And if ego and the incongruent reason of hard work dominates, then critique is an insult. But for those who can forsake one’s self in the name of better service and higher quality, then ego must stand aside for ideals worth reaching for. Philosophy has made it this far with critiques. It shaped perspectives, exposed lies, and truths, and is still undergoing its evaluation. Seeking the better must not end, and only dead people no longer grow and cease to think and dream.