What is Critical Thinking?
What is Critical Thinking?
What is the difference between normal thinking and critical thinking?
"Critical thinking" is a special way of thinking that is different from everyday usage.
Critical thinking is about NOT having an "open mind"; ie one that accepts any idea as being possible and having at least some merit.
Instead, critical thinking is about developing an "active mind", one that is seeking only valid, rational statements. Critical thinking is more rigorous.
Critical thinking is rigorous, logical thinking. It differentiates between facts and opinions. Critical thinking rejects any arbitrary or non-rational statements.
Critical thinking accepts statements that are the products of factual observation and logical inference.
Every experience is composed of five elements:
- Facts: Objective reality. Truth.
- Perception: Evidence of the senses; what you see, smell, taste, feel and hear.
- Identification: Understanding and giving correct identity to WHAT you have perceived.
- Evaluation: The proper (or improper) assessment of what you have identified.
- Response: The correct (or incorrect) reaction to the facts.
Critical thinking is the rejection of the arbitrary, the non-rational or illogical. The aim of critical thinking is to correctly identify and to logically evaluate the facts, and thus to ensure that your response is correct and consistent with the facts.
What is the opposite of critical thinking?
Broadly speaking, evaluations are of two types: rational or NOT rational. Many people evaluate facts by non-rational standards.
Here are a few WRONG ways by which people judge truth from falsehood:
1. The majority view.
They believe whatever is the majority opinion.
2. Appeal of status.
Believe the views of their favourite guru.
3. Selective perception.
Allowing into your mind only those facts that correspond to your existing view.
4. Arbitrary assertions.
Saying anything that pops into your head, on the premise that, "anything is possible".
5. Gut feeling / Intuition.
Using your "feelings" as a substitute for logic.
6. Cynicism.
The rejection of the whole idea of knowledge, under the premise that certain knowledge of anything is impossible.
The critical thinking skills.
Critical thinking is composed of six subset skills, each one of which is worthy of your consideration:
1. Identification.
Observation, measurement and identification of the facts.
How do you discover the raw facts?
2. Definition.
Understanding the key issues.
How do you define your key concepts and terms?
3. Analysis.
Breaking the whole into its constituent parts.
What are the constituent parts of the whole?
4. Synthesis.
Putting the parts together to build the whole.
How do the parts fit together to form the whole?
5. Integration.
Ensuring your conclusions fit into the bigger picture, without contradiction.
How does your conclusion fit into the broader context of knowledge?
6. Verification.
Checking for error.
How do you know you did not make a mistake?
Develop your critical thinking skills
Our Personal Development Training Course examines and teaches the art of critical thinking.
During the COVID-19 pandemic we are pleased to make this Personal Development training course available online, at a discounted price.
So take advantage of your self-isolation or furlough leave to improve yourself and your career prospects, for when the lockdown restrictions are lifted!
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Further Reading in Personal Development
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Why it is Good to be Ambitious
When people are ambitious, they have positive goals, something to plan for and something to work towards. Planning towards a better future helps people feel stronger and more optimistic.
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Seeking the Approval of Others
The fear of rejection is, for many people, a deep seated fear. It is so deep seated and primitive a fear, that many are not consciously aware of its existence, though we are painfully aware of its effects.
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How to create a personal development plan
To cope with an ever-changing world, you should be a continuous state of personal development. By developing your professional skills you will be in a good place to achieve your goals and achieve success.
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Why Some People Are More Successful Than Others
Success is something we all strive for in our lives. But what makes some people more successful than others? Successful people share common traits, that you too can learn and apply to become more successful.
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How to Make Progress
When things go wrong, don't despair. Instead take advantage of the situation to think about what else can be achieved. Utilise the situation to make progress in an unexpected way.
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