However, learning how to question should not be confused with getting a licence to question everything. Military officers simply cannot disobey lawful orders or question authority at inappropriate times. Part of learning to be a good critical thinker must be learning that there is a time and a place to bring new suggestions to the table. Creative, critical, out of the box thinking requires maturity and responsibility. You have to know when to speak up, and when to keep your thoughts to yourself until your input can truly be beneficial.
Productive debate requires civility, open-mindedness and mutual respect.
Ad hominem attacks and emotional appeals are not part of critical thinking. Concerns about risk management may have led us to take too much freedom away from midshipmen, limiting their opportunities to make important decisions and, at time, learn from their mistakes. We should think about giving more risk back to the mids. We might lose a few more that way, but the ones who survive will be better equipped to be good officers. Adding more critical thinking elements to classes could help midshipmen experience more of the joy of learning.