Critical Thinking

1
Critical Thinking
2

• Definition Evaluating whether we should be
  convinced that a claim is true or that an
  argument is good. Its also about formulating
  good arguments.
• Critical thinking prevents bad decision making.
• Its a process which a person tries to answer
  rationally those questions that cant be easily
  or definitively answered and to which all
  relevant information may not be available. Thus,
  it requires judgment.
• It is based on evidence. Its an evaluation of
  ideas, information, and opinions based on
  evidence and/or logical reasoning to reach a
  sound conclusion.

3

• Often times, critical thinking is a matter of
  judgment. A lot of evaluating is subjective and
  thats ok.
• Critical thinking requires us to explore a
  situation, questions, problem and arrive at a
  hypothesis or conclusion about it that integrates
  all available information and thus can be
  convincingly justified.
• There are 2 elements of critical thinking
  claims and arguments.
• Think When was the last time someone tried to
  persuade you?

4

• When we discover or are introduced to new
  information, we need to subject it to rigorous
  testing along with a wide range of creative
  solutions to complex problems.
• Many people think they are critical thinkers, but
  in actuality they are not.
• Argumentation, then is the foundation of critical
  thinking. It focuses on inquiry and advocacy,
  thus it provides a rigorous methodology to
  discover information, test ideas, explore
  alternative, and critique information.

5

• Again critical thinking emphasizes a rational
  basis for beliefs and provides a set of standards
  and procedures for testing and evaluating them.
• Even the word rational is very publicly
  debated. Can you think of some examples?
• Our decisions are bounded by many factors we
  make decisions based on the information that is
  available to us.
• All information is distorted to some extent.
  Many times we are too lazy to take full advantage
  of the information that is available. Can you
  think of some examples of this?

6

• Other times, we dont make any attempt to analyze
  before making important decisions (more thought
  into buying a car than making a baby).
• Critical thinking is not the same as
  disagreement. Rather, we examine the reasons
  behind an opposing viewpoint. We decide if
  opposing claims are justifiable.
• Critical thinking does not aim to embarrass or
  humiliate others.
• It does not entail nitpicking where we get so
  overly focused on trivial details.
• Critical thinking should be applied to our own
  beliefs, not just others beliefs.

7

• Critical thinking must be based on clearly
  focused statements. Muddled arguing/thinking is
  apparent when people lose sight of the point/s of
  the issue
• Critical thinking requires clarifying the meaning
  of terms central to the argument.
• Example What does fair mean in terms of
  Affirmative Action?
• When using critical thinking skills in developing
  and applying criteria for evaluation, we must
  also justify our own values and to present
  evidence to support our own arguments.

8
Barriers To Critical Thinking

• Perception forgetting that we have our own
  frame of reference (Idaho in-laws).
• Too much reliance on personal experience
  Because I experienced this way, that is the way
  it is.
• Too much reliance on authority or cultural norms
  to the extent we stop thinking for ourselves.
• Hasty moral judgments. Judgments based on looks,
  background, associations rather than facts.
• Absolutism all or nothing thinking. Issues are
  seen in either/or terms with no allowances or
  exceptions
• Egocentricity the natural inclination to favor
  and defend our values over others.
• Ethnocentricity natural inclination to favor and
  defend our culture and cultural values over
  others. (or the opposite Hate America First
  crowd ?)

9
Critical Thinking Involves Other Processes

• Avoiding oversimplification and refining
  generalizations.
• Generating/assessing solutions to problems.
  Analyze problems before proposing solutions.
• Comparing perspectives, interpretations,
  theories.
• Seeking out information that disagree with our
  own perspective.
• Reading critically.
• Listening critically. Seriously considers
  opposing viewpoints.
• Anticipates objections to ones position.
• Monitors our own effectiveness and chooses the
  most effective from a wide range of
  possibilities.
• There is no absolute assurance of our conclusions.