About Critical ThinkingAbout Critical Thinking

What is critical thinking and why is What is critical thinking and why is it important?it important?

Source: Lau, Joe. Source: Lau, Joe. A Mini Guide to Critical Thinking.A Mini Guide to Critical Thinking. Available at Available at http://http://

philosophy.hku.hk/think/misc/miniguide.pdfphilosophy.hku.hk/think/misc/miniguide.pdf

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly

and rationally. and rationally. It includes the ability to engage in reflective It includes the ability to engage in reflective

and independent thinkingand independent thinking. . Someone with critical thinking skills is able to Someone with critical thinking skills is able to

do the following do the following : : understand the logical connections between ideasunderstand the logical connections between ideas identify, construct and evaluate argumentsidentify, construct and evaluate arguments detect inconsistencies and common mistakes in reasoningdetect inconsistencies and common mistakes in reasoning solve problems systematicallysolve problems systematically identify the relevance and importance of ideasidentify the relevance and importance of ideas reflect on the justification of one's own beliefs and valuesreflect on the justification of one's own beliefs and values

WHAT CRITICAL THINKING IS (1)WHAT CRITICAL THINKING IS (1)

The The Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking AppraisalWatson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal is a well- is a well-known psychological test of critical thinking ability. known psychological test of critical thinking ability.

The authors of this test define critical thinking as :The authors of this test define critical thinking as : ““... a composite of attitudes, knowledge and skills.”... a composite of attitudes, knowledge and skills.” This composite includes: This composite includes: (1) attitudes of inquiry that involve an ability to (1) attitudes of inquiry that involve an ability to

recognize the existence of problems and an recognize the existence of problems and an acceptance of the general need for evidence in acceptance of the general need for evidence in support of what is asserted to be true; support of what is asserted to be true;

(2) knowledge of the nature of valid inferences, (2) knowledge of the nature of valid inferences, abstractions, and generalizations in which the weight abstractions, and generalizations in which the weight or accuracy of different kinds of evidence are logically or accuracy of different kinds of evidence are logically determined; and determined; and

(3) skills in employing and applying the above (3) skills in employing and applying the above attitudes and knowledge. attitudes and knowledge.

The following excerpt comes from Dr. Peter A. Facione (1990) The following excerpt comes from Dr. Peter A. Facione (1990) "Critical Thinking: A Statement of Expert Consensus for Purposes "Critical Thinking: A Statement of Expert Consensus for Purposes of Educational Assessment and Instruction", a report for the of Educational Assessment and Instruction", a report for the American Philosophical Association.American Philosophical Association.

"We understand critical thinking to be purposeful, self-regulatory "We understand critical thinking to be purposeful, self-regulatory judgment which results in interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and judgment which results in interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and inference, as well as explanation of the evidential, conceptual, inference, as well as explanation of the evidential, conceptual, methodological, criteriological, or contextual considerations upon which methodological, criteriological, or contextual considerations upon which that judgment is based. CT is essential as a tool of inquiry. As such, CT is that judgment is based. CT is essential as a tool of inquiry. As such, CT is a liberating force in education and a powerful resource in one's personal a liberating force in education and a powerful resource in one's personal and civic life. While not synonymous with good thinking, CT is a pervasive and civic life. While not synonymous with good thinking, CT is a pervasive and self-rectifying human phenomenon. The ideal critical thinker is and self-rectifying human phenomenon. The ideal critical thinker is habitually inquisitive, well-informed, trustful of reason, open-minded, habitually inquisitive, well-informed, trustful of reason, open-minded, flexible, fairminded in evaluation, honest in facing personal biases, flexible, fairminded in evaluation, honest in facing personal biases, prudent in making judgments, willing to reconsider, clear about issues, prudent in making judgments, willing to reconsider, clear about issues, orderly in complex matters, diligent in seeking relevant information, orderly in complex matters, diligent in seeking relevant information, reasonable in the selection of criteria, focused in inquiry, and persistent in reasonable in the selection of criteria, focused in inquiry, and persistent in seeking results which are as precise as the subject and the circumstances seeking results which are as precise as the subject and the circumstances of inquiry permit. Thus, educating good critical thinkers means working of inquiry permit. Thus, educating good critical thinkers means working toward this ideal. It combines developing CT skills with nurturing those toward this ideal. It combines developing CT skills with nurturing those dispositions which consistently yield useful insights and which are the dispositions which consistently yield useful insights and which are the basis of a rational and democratic society." basis of a rational and democratic society."

WHAT CRITICAL THINKING IS (2)WHAT CRITICAL THINKING IS (2)

The last excerpt comes from a statement written by Michael The last excerpt comes from a statement written by Michael Scriven and Richard Paul, Scriven and Richard Paul, National Council for Excellence in Critical ThinkingNational Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking, an , an organization promoting critical thinking in the US.organization promoting critical thinking in the US.

Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action. In its communication, as a guide to belief and action. In its exemplary form, it is based on universal intellectual values that exemplary form, it is based on universal intellectual values that transcend subject matter divisions: clarity, accuracy, precision, transcend subject matter divisions: clarity, accuracy, precision, consistency, relevance, sound evidence, good reasons, depth, consistency, relevance, sound evidence, good reasons, depth, breadth, and fairness. It entails the examination of those breadth, and fairness. It entails the examination of those structures or elements of thought implicit in all reasoning: structures or elements of thought implicit in all reasoning: purpose, problem, or question-at-issue, assumptions, concepts, purpose, problem, or question-at-issue, assumptions, concepts, empirical grounding; reasoning leading to conclusions, empirical grounding; reasoning leading to conclusions, implications and consequences, objections from alternative implications and consequences, objections from alternative viewpoints, and frame of reference.viewpoints, and frame of reference.

WHAT CRITICAL THINKING IS (3)WHAT CRITICAL THINKING IS (3)

THEIR COMMON CORETHEIR COMMON CORE

Clarity Clarity RationalityRationality

WHAT CRITICAL THINKING IS WHAT CRITICAL THINKING IS NOTNOT

(1) Critical thinking is not a matter of (1) Critical thinking is not a matter of accumulating information. accumulating information.

A person with a good memory and who A person with a good memory and who knows a lot of facts is not necessarily good knows a lot of facts is not necessarily good at critical thinking. at critical thinking.

A critical thinker is able to deduce A critical thinker is able to deduce consequences from what he knows, and consequences from what he knows, and he knows how to make use of information he knows how to make use of information to solve problems, and to seek relevant to solve problems, and to seek relevant sources of information to inform himself. sources of information to inform himself.

(2) Critical thinking should not be confused (2) Critical thinking should not be confused with being argumentative or being critical of with being argumentative or being critical of other people. other people.

Although critical thinking skills can be used in Although critical thinking skills can be used in exposing fallacies and bad reasoning, critical exposing fallacies and bad reasoning, critical thinking can also play an important role in thinking can also play an important role in cooperative reasoning and constructive cooperative reasoning and constructive tasks. tasks.

Critical thinking can help us acquire Critical thinking can help us acquire knowledge, improve our theories, and knowledge, improve our theories, and strengthen arguments. strengthen arguments.

We can use critical thinking to enhance work We can use critical thinking to enhance work processes and improve social institutions. processes and improve social institutions.

WHAT CRITICAL THINKING IS WHAT CRITICAL THINKING IS NOTNOT

CT, SCIENCE AND LIBERAL CT, SCIENCE AND LIBERAL DEMOCRACYDEMOCRACY

Good critical thinking might be seen as the Good critical thinking might be seen as the foundation of science and a liberal foundation of science and a liberal democratic society. democratic society.

Science requires the critical use of reason Science requires the critical use of reason in experimentation and theory in experimentation and theory confirmation. confirmation.

The proper functioning of a liberal The proper functioning of a liberal democracy requires citizens who can think democracy requires citizens who can think critically about social issues to inform their critically about social issues to inform their judgments about proper governance and judgments about proper governance and to overcome biases and prejudice. to overcome biases and prejudice.

WHY STUDY CRITICAL WHY STUDY CRITICAL THINKINGTHINKING

Critical thinking is a domain-general Critical thinking is a domain-general thinking skillthinking skill. .

The ability to think clearly and rationally is The ability to think clearly and rationally is important whatever we choose to do. important whatever we choose to do.

If you work in education, research, finance, If you work in education, research, finance, management or the legal profession, then management or the legal profession, then critical thinking is obviously important. critical thinking is obviously important.

But critical thinking skills are not restricted But critical thinking skills are not restricted to a particular subject area. to a particular subject area.

Being able to think well and solve Being able to think well and solve problems systematically is an asset for problems systematically is an asset for any career.any career.

Critical thinking is very important in the Critical thinking is very important in the new knowledge economy.new knowledge economy.

The global knowledge economy is driven by The global knowledge economy is driven by information and technology. information and technology.

One has to be able to deal with changes quickly One has to be able to deal with changes quickly and effectively. and effectively.

The new economy places increasing demands on The new economy places increasing demands on flexible intellectual skills, and the ability to flexible intellectual skills, and the ability to analyze information and integrate diverse sources analyze information and integrate diverse sources of knowledge in solving problems. of knowledge in solving problems.

Good critical thinking promotes such thinking Good critical thinking promotes such thinking skills, and is very important in the fast-changing skills, and is very important in the fast-changing workplace.workplace.

WHY STUDY CRITICAL WHY STUDY CRITICAL THINKINGTHINKING

Critical thinking enhances Critical thinking enhances language and presentation skillslanguage and presentation skills. .

Thinking clearly and systematically Thinking clearly and systematically can improve the way we express our can improve the way we express our ideas. ideas.

In learning how to analyze the logical In learning how to analyze the logical structure of texts, critical thinking structure of texts, critical thinking also improves comprehension also improves comprehension abilities.abilities.

WHY STUDY CRITICAL WHY STUDY CRITICAL THINKINGTHINKING

Critical thinking promotes creativityCritical thinking promotes creativity. . To come up with a creative solution to a To come up with a creative solution to a

problem involves not just having new problem involves not just having new ideas. ideas.

It must also be the case that the new ideas It must also be the case that the new ideas being generated are useful and relevant to being generated are useful and relevant to the task at hand. the task at hand.

Critical thinking plays a crucial role in Critical thinking plays a crucial role in evaluating new ideas, selecting the best evaluating new ideas, selecting the best ones and modifying them if necessary.ones and modifying them if necessary.

WHY STUDY CRITICAL WHY STUDY CRITICAL THINKINGTHINKING

Critical thinking is crucial for Critical thinking is crucial for self-reflectionself-reflection. .

In order to live a meaningful life and In order to live a meaningful life and to structure our lives accordingly, we to structure our lives accordingly, we need to justify and reflect on our need to justify and reflect on our values and decisions. values and decisions.

Critical thinking provides the tools for Critical thinking provides the tools for this process of self-evaluation.this process of self-evaluation.

WHY STUDY CRITICAL WHY STUDY CRITICAL THINKINGTHINKING

Although most people would agree that Although most people would agree that critical thinking is an important thinking critical thinking is an important thinking skill, most people also do not know how to skill, most people also do not know how to improve their own thinking. improve their own thinking.

This is because critical thinking is a This is because critical thinking is a meta-meta-thinking skillthinking skill. .

It requires careful reflection on the good It requires careful reflection on the good principles of reasoning and making a principles of reasoning and making a conscious effort to internalize them and conscious effort to internalize them and apply them in daily life. apply them in daily life.

This is notoriously hard to do and often This is notoriously hard to do and often requires a long period of training. requires a long period of training.

CAVEAT ON CTCAVEAT ON CT