Why Critical Thinking Is Important

Critical thinking is a skill. It is active interpretation and evaluation of observation, communication, information and argumentation

It takes time and effort to be a good critical thinker

It’s a learned skill

Uncertainty is not our friend?

Critical Thinking- Logic & ReasonThe Beginning

Socrates

Plato

Aristotle

Critical Thinking- Truth• Objective Truth

• True regardless of viewer• Excepted truths• Truth is based on excepted definitions• Cat, dog, chair

• Subjective truth• Truth varies by individual• Truth is formed my each persons experiences and

belief systems• Love, justice, freedom• Subjective truth can have many definitions

Critical Thinking-- Opinion• Conclusion drawn that are based on

emotion, subjective thought and assumptions

• The truth of the conclusion drawn is very unclear

• Try to predict outcome with subjective evidence.

• We can except others opinions without having to change ours…..ambiguity

• Opinions have no verified support

Critical Thinking- Everyday Life1.Reflection2.Challenged3.Improved

Thinking4.Growth and

change

We take control of our lives by knowing and improving our own method and process of thinking.

Three Stages of Critical ThinkingClick icon to add clip art• Dualism

• Only right and wrong. • Relativism

• All individual context.• No right and wrong

• Commitment• All individual context• Not all context equal

Not all situations are equally valid . Need to analyze each situation to come to the right conclusion

Good Critical Thinking Characteristics

Analytical• Logic support for

decisions• Evaluate all

arguments• Recognize faulty

reasoning

Communication• Knowing how to

make your ideas know in multiple ways and situations• Languages• Cultures• Genders

Research• Formulate the

right questions• Interpret data• Evaluate

Flexibility• Knowing that clear

answers are not always available

• Need to change question to fine answer

• Sometimes there is no answer

Open Minded Skepticism• Let evidence form

conclusions• Question beliefs• Accept other ideas

“Suspend our disbelief”

Results of Critical Thinking

Good Problem Solving1. Simplify the problem2. Seek the easiest

solutions3. See multiple solutions4. See opposite sides

Collaborative Learning

1. Share knowledge (POV)2. Pool experiences (Beliefs)3. Minimizes personal biases4. Instant feedback, quicker

resolution

Self- Development

Critical Thinking- Life Goals• Lead a life that you

choose and that is not given to you.

• Consider consequences before actions

• Schedule for your life

• Set goals• Challenging• Reachable

Critical Thinking - FreedomWe know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily…demanded by the oppressed…For years now I have heard the word "Wait!" It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This "Wait" has almost always meant "Never." We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists, that "justice too long delayed is justice denied.“

Martin Luther King, JrLetters From a Birmingham Jail

1. Need to take action and put forth effort toward a group goal

2. Can’t let fear keep us from doing what is right

3. Fear will mean no movement towards our goal at all

--- He is NOT saying that all issues that a certain sect of people deem as oppressive is justification for an individual fight for freedom ---

Critical Thinking- FreedomIn a republican nation, whose citizens are to be led by reason and persuasion and not by force, the art of reasoning becomes of first importance

Thomas Jefferson

Homework:Steps and Barriers to Critical Thinking

Three tired modelClick icon to add clip art• Experience

• I witnessed a robbery• I went to this school• I worked at this company

• Interpretation• This person was robber

because• This school is bad, and this

is why• This company should be

shut down• Analysis

• To avoid a robbery you should

• This school needs new administration and teacher

• When you start a new company you should avoid

Type of Resistance• Ignore situations or questions-

avoid• Get mad at situation or

questions- anger• Take on popular responses to

situations or questions- clichés• Deny that situations or question

exist- denial• Not enough knowledge to

address situations or questions- ignorance

• Peer pressure answers the questions or situations for you- conformity

• Never answering a situation or questions- struggling

• Doing something else instead of addressing situation or questions- distraction

Narrow Mindedness

• Believe what they are told by perceived expert- Absolutism

• Don’t want the hassle- Fear of challenge

• What I think is more important than what other think- Egocentrism

• Our race or culture’s thoughts are more important that yours- Ethnocentrism