Kaj_Sotala:

It seems to me that if we want to actually raise the sanity waterline and make people evaluate things critically, and not just conform to different groups than is the norm, a crucial part of that is getting people to adopt an identity of critical thinking. This way, the concept of identity ceases to be something that makes rational thinking harder and starts to actively aid it.

I don't think that could ever work. Just look at the present situation. A great many people nowadays feel that "critical thinking," "open-mindedness," "questioning authority," etc. are important parts of their identity, and will take offense if you suggest otherwise. The modern culture strongly encourages such attitudes. Yet, in practice, this nearly always results in cargo-cult "critical thinking" where one is merely supposed to display the correct shibboleths, accept the prevailing respectable beliefs, and avoid like plague any actual critical thinking about the truly sacrosanct taboos, values, and moral and intellectual authorities.

The old "We are all individuals!" sketch comes to mind.