The Importance of Argument

May 17, 2016 Kenny Venere

Argument is a essential piece of critical thinking and as a profession grounded in science is unambiguously necessary for the advancement of physical therapy. This is because science is advanced by critique and from critique comes refinement and progression. With this in mind, it is distressing to see so many of my colleagues claim that we need to “stop arguing” — Part of the issue might come from semantics surrounding the word “argument”, but I think the bigger issue is something a bit deeper than that.

Getting to Know Your Idealogical Immune System

February 21, 2016 Kenny Venere

Jay Stuart Snelson describes the ideological immune system as a system that “resists acceptance of any new ideas that would overturn any of our old basic ideas.” The idealogical immune system highlights the fact that change is hard, especially when that change comes along with a heaping dose of cognitive dissonance and contradicts our previously held beliefs.

Skepticism: What it is and what it is not

February 2, 2016 Kenny Venere

Skepticism seems to be one of those concepts that gets a bad rap not because the actual idea or thought process is a bad one, but due to the misunderstandings and misuse of the word by those claiming to be, and those critical of, skeptics. The concept of skepticism is necessary and important in physical therapy. But first, we have to make sure we understand what skepticism is and what it is not.