Critical Thinking Be a critical thinker!

Our Flawed Thinking… Most of our thinking is… Biased Distorted Partial Uninformed Prejudiced Shoddy thinking is… Costly in money and quality of life Reflects poorly on our personality Does not allow us to rise above a situation 2

Critical Thinking Definition: “It is the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with a view to improving it.” It entails effective communication and problem solving abilities and a commitment to overcome our native ego-centrism and socio-centrism. 3

A Well Cultivated 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, 4

A Well Cultivated Thinker… thinks open-mindedly within alternative systems of thought, recognizing and assessing, as need be, their assumptions, implications, and practical consequences and communicates effectively with others in figuring out solutions to complex problems. 5

Critical Thinking is… Self directed Self disciplined Self monitored Self corrective 6

Elements of Thought Point of viewFrame of reference, perspective, orientation PurposeGoal, objective QuestionProblem, issue InformationData, facts, observations, experiences 7

Elements of Thought InterpretationConclusions, solutions ConceptsTheories, definitions, laws, models, principles AssumptionsPresuppositions, taking for granted ImplicationsConsequences 8

Intellectual Standards Elaboration Illustration Clarity Checking Verification Accuracy Details Specifications Precision 9

Intellectual Standards Relation to the problem Significance to the issue Relevance Complexities of the issue Challenges to deal with Depth Another perspective Out of the box thinking Breadth 10

Intellectual Standards Synergy in parts Is there any evidence? Logic Priority Focus area Significanc e Any vested interest? Group think? Fairness 11

Intellectual Virtues/Traits Intellectual IntegrityIntellectual Humility Confidence in ReasonIntellectual Perseverance Fair mindednessIntellectual Courage Intellectual EmpathyIntellectual Autonomy 12

Developing Intellectual Traits The STANDARDS must be applied to…. The ELEMENTS as we learn to develop…. INTELLECTUAL TRAITS 13

14 Critical thinkers routinely apply the intellectual standards to the elements of reasoning in order to develop intellectual traits. ******************