The value of critique
CRITIQUE has been viewed by many as negative. Oftentimes it is understood to mean in the same way as “criticism.” The former however is not any ordinary disapproval or dislike of things. If ever it ends up as such, it is only because of the process that it systematically went through. Critique therefore presupposes review, analysis, and above all reflection. Thus, he or she who critics is but reflective in the most ordinary sense of the word.
I thus find it problematic whenever certain people would say that a critique is not constructive. There is this attitude among many that shuns views that are prejudicially labeled as antagonistic. More often I hear the remark “let us look at the brighter side of life.” A rather common way of saying it as “let’s be positive.” Indeed there is so much merit as there are reasons to be positive. There is a difference however between being positive and being in denial.
It is indeed unfortunate that people these days would prefer to live a happy life in a world full of fiction and fantasy rather than suffer and go through the pains in a real human world.
Things have to be confronted as they are. Our failure in this aspect would lead to the formation of social hallucinations. And when people hallucinate or dream of things on the pretext of being positive, they end up laying themselves in their own coffin of disenchantment.
It is important to highlight that critique has and should have a place in society. Being critical is not necessarily being negative. History tells us that the world continues to unfold because of tensions and disagreements. Without opposition, nothing would happen and change. A world without critique is one that is dry and monochromatic. Would science have progressed if society stopped with the belief that metaphysics and theology are the center of the universe’s interpretations? Would democracies emerge if it were not for the revolutions?
The mind should be the freest space in this world. If we cannot even be free in and with our thought, there is, apparently, no reason why we can be free in the other regions of human existence. Critique is the most important step to freeing the mind and thus the person from dogmatic slumbers.
This brings me to my final point: introspection. Many people do not also see and understand the connection between critique and introspection. Let me put the matter more directly: those who value critique are more introspective than those who do not.
In the face of the country’s political problems Bill Maher’s words are timely: “I do think the patriotic thing to do is to critique my country. How else do you make a country better but by pointing out its flaws?”
Those people who would say that we better shut up so that this country will become more progressive are the ones who are totally missing the point. For every time we look into ourselves we get to see the things that we truly care. And when one truly cares one cannot but be moved to say something even if it may not be favorable more so acceptable by the majority. For the love of wisdom, and that deep sense of passion for the world and its concerns, we dare say those words which many do not want to.
The harshest critique though most unpopular does a greater service to humanity than all silence, obedience, and positivity combined – if in the end they contribute to society’s pathologies.