Critical thinking is that mode of thinking… in which the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking by skillfully taking charge of the structures inherent in thinking and imposing intellectual standards upon them.
To be skilled in critical thinking is to be able to take one’s thinking apart systematically, to analyse each part, assess it for quality and then improve it. The first step in this process is understanding the parts of thinking, or elements of reasoning.
These elements are:
purpose,
question,
information,
inference,
assumption,
point of view,
concepts, and
implications.
They are present in the mind whenever we reason. To take command of our thinking, we need to formulate both our purpose and the question at issue clearly. We need to use information in our thinking that is both relevant to the question we are dealing with, and accurate. We need to make logical inferences based on sound assumptions. We need to understand our own point of view and fully consider other relevant viewpoints. We need to use concepts justifiably and follow out the implications of decisions we are considering.
A well cultivated critical thinker:
· Raises vital questions and problems, formulating them clearly and precisely;
· Gathers and assesses relevant information, using abstract ideas to interpret it effectively;
· Comes to well-reasoned conclusions and solutions, testing them against relevant criteria and standards;
· Thinks open-mindedly within alternative systems of thought, recognising and assessing as need be, their assumptions, implications, and practical consequences; and
- Communicates effectively with others in figuring out solutions to complex problems."
Critical Thinking encompasses:
- Clarity: … Clarity is a gateway standard. If a statement is unclear, we cannot determine whether it is accurate or relevant. …
- Accuracy: … A statement can be clear but not accurate…
- Precision: … A statement can be both clear and accurate, but not precise…
- Relevance: … A statement can be clear, accurate, and precise, but not relevant to the question at issue. …
- Depth: … A statement can be clear, accurate, precise, and relevant, but superficial…
- Breath: … A line of reasoning may be clear, accurate, precise, relevant, and deep, but lack breath…
- Logic: … When we think, we bring a variety of thoughts together into some order. When the combination of thoughts are mutually supporting and make sense in combination, the thinking is 'logical."
Questions using the elements of thought, should have
- Purpose: What am I trying to accomplish? What is my central aim? My purpose?
- Information: What information am I using in coming to that conclusion? What experience have I had to support that claim? What information do I need to settle the question?
- Inference: How did I reach this conclusion?
- Conclusion: Is there another way to interpret the information?
- Concept: What is the main idea here? Could I explain this idea?
- Assumptions: What am I taking for granted? What assumption has led me to that conclusion?
- Implications: If someone accepted my position, what would be the implications?
- Consequences:
- Points of View: From what point of view am I looking at this issue? …
- Questions: What questions am I raising? What questions am I addressing?"
"Essential Intellectual Standards should include:
- Intellectual Humility …
- Intellectual Courage …
- Intellectual Empathy …
- Intellectual Autonomy …
- Intellectual Integrity …
- Intellectual Perseverance …
- Confidence in Reason …
- Fair-mindedness …"
A Checklist forCritical Thinking:
- What are you assessing and why?…
- Ask probing, evaluate questions…
- Specify the information you need to collect…
- Decide on criteria or standards…
- Be clear about what exactly you are trying to find out.
- Are there any unintended negative consequences of your mode of evaluation?
- Review your evaluation overall. Is it coherent, logical, realistic, and practical?"
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