Critique for "the Cognitive Age", by David Brooks

The gloom surrounding America has amplified in the current fiercely competitive world. Nonetheless, the Americans should not conveniently push all blame to globalization alone. Indeed, over the past few decades, globalization has reshaped the world trading realm. Gone are the days when trade was dominated by the few global powers. Today, it has transformed into an inter-continental affair. In the article “The Cognitive Age”, David Brooks assets that this complex global phenomenon is not the sole contributor to the major economic woes of the Americans. Hence, it is not the primary issue that they should tackle. Instead, he argues that a skilled pool of labour force and cutting-edge technology are what they need to work towards to flourish amidst the imminent calamities of the nation.

However, in paragraph 10 of the article, Brooks contends that “it (the remodeling of the manufacturing sector in the U.S.) would be happening even if you tore up every free trade deal ever inked”. Undoubtedly, Brooks is making a groundless claim as he oversimplifies the situation, and makes a hasty and prejudiced generalization of the cause. In essence, Brooks implies that globalization plays an insignificant role in this economic phenomenon, and that most, if not all, credit should go to the heightened emphasis on expertise. Conversely, in paragraphs 9 and 11, Brooks acknowledges that globalization has led to the development of a comprehensive and efficient communications technology across the globe, and that the rise of the cognitive age and cutting-edge technology is accelerated by the global flow of information and escalating world competition, both of which are attributes of globalization. Considering these arguments, a subtle self-contradiction may surface as it is apparent in this episode that globalization, the cognitive age and innovation are not mutually exclusive events. In fact, they hold equal importance as contributors to the transformations in America’s