Not to over-nuance the reality of nuance, but it is one thing to merely offer subtle

distinctions and quite another to clearly set forth subtle distinctions that make a
difference.
Some say nuance may be invoked too frequently when it is not justied. That's ne. The
misuse of a thing does not argue successfully against its proper use, however.
It can also be invoked too seldomly for complex realities that have been greatly
oversimplied, whether in science, culture, philosophy or religion, in general, or moral,
legal and political realities, in particular. The hallmark of philosophy is the recognition of
distinctions that make a difference.
Nothing marks the 2016 POTUS election cycle more than its lack of civility. Nothing,
however, has fostered this incivility more than that political polarization, which has
precisely been fueled by a failure to trafc in nuance, instead conversing in grand
oversimplications that t in tweets, bumper stickers and small minds.
From CBS News:

"These broadsides make politics less about issues than tactics. They're long on ad
hominem and short on substance. They're less interested in convincing anyone ... than in
whipping up their own berserkers." Ellen Goodman bemoans "the rant" as "a driving force
in the polarization of politics. We don't do ambivalence anymore. Nuance be damned.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/outfoxed/
From Joshua Dubois:

It sounds like embracing the nuances of each individual issue instead of just painting
with broad brushes Republican, Democrat, Conservative, Liberalreally can help bring
people together instead of dividing them further apart.
You have to really kind of embrace the complexity, the gray areas and the nuance and
make decisions not just on a basis of a party afliation but using discernment, wisdom
and really submitting every decision to the lter of the Holy Spirit.
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/current/why-you-need-be-involved-politics#GrYDrKM
1IGbH2fwB.99
But what is critical thinking, really?It is understanding nuance. 1
The problem in this arena is how to move beyond the mere focus on the critical thinking
process to nuance (deep understanding). 2
Media literacy demands nuanced thinking about message creators as well as their goals
and values. 3

I am staunchly of the opinion that this appreciation for nuance, which I associate with a
spirit of enquiry, can come only from unfettered access to education especially
science education. 4
The qualities associated with deep learningcritical thinking, grappling with nuance and
complexity, questioning authority, and embracing intellectual questionsare not ones
that have been widely embraced by the American people. 5
Critical thinkinginvolves the ability to make a judgement or evaluation about importance,
nuance, or precedence. More: being an effective critical thinker also implies that one has
the ability toask the right kind of questions not merely answerthem. 6
It doesnt make much sense to argue against the idea of nuance per se. What counts as
nuance depends on whom youre speaking to, and why. Instead I have a specic
phenomenon in mind: the tendency to demand more detail, insist on a
more-sophisticated approach, or assert things are more complex than has been said
without having anything much to say beyond that. In particular, its the tendency to think
doing so makes you a deep thinker. 7
Religious Studies provides the opportunity to understand, with depth and nuance, the
many beliefs and rituals that move persons to appreciate the alternative world of the
religious reality. 8
Some people habitually think in simple black/white terms but nuance can be extremely
important. Unfortunately, those nuances will make things very complicated. Social
issues, especially, often have no simple means of conclusion. 9
Concepts and issues that bring together complexity, nuance, controversy and authentic
impact present educators with a kind of "perfect-storm" opportunity to engage critical
thinking. 10
1https://gianthatworks.com/entry/what-is-critical-thinking
2http://www.cgu.edu/pages/869.asp
3https://thebluereview.org/teaching-media-literacy/
4http://inscientioveritas.org/nuance-critical-scicomm-bothways/

5)
http://www.teachingquality.org/content/blogs/barnett-berry/one-thing-deeper-learning-d
emands
6http://consiliumeducation.com/itm/2016/06/11/the-essential-skill-of-analytical-thinki
ng/
7http://www.chronicle.com/article/Is-Nuance-Overrated-/232771
8http://www.swarthmore.edu/religion/why-study-religion
9http://web.randi.org/swift/i-recommend-a-critical-thinking-ct-scan
10https://www.edutopia.org/blog/news-literacy-critical-thinking-skills-peter-adams
critical thinking, nuance, oversimplication, political polarization, political incivility, 2016
election, subtle distinctions