What is Critical Thinking?

What is Critical Thinking?

1. It is "only human"

   • to with to validate our prior knowledge
   • to vindicate our prior decisions
   • to sustain our earlier beliefs

2. process of satisfying our ego

   • we can often deny
     • ourselves intellectual growth
     • opportunity

3. the main characteristics are the following

   • Rationality
     • We are thinking critically when we
       • Rely on reason rather than emotion
       • Require evidence, ignore no know evidence, and follow evidence where it leads
       • Are concerned more with finding the best explanation that being right analyzing
         • apparent confusion
         • asking questions
   • Self-awareness
     • We are thinking critically when we
       • Weigh the influences of motives and bias
       • Recognize our own assumptions, prejudices, biases, or point of view
   • Honesty
     • We are thinking when we recognize
       • emotional impulses
       • selfish motives
       • nefarious purposes
       • other modes of self-deception
   • Open-mindedness
     • We are thinking critically when we
       • Evaluate all reasonable inferences
       • Consider a variety of possible
         • viewpoints
         • perspectives
   • Discipline
     • We are thinking critically when we
       • are
         • precise
         • meticulous
         • comprehensive
         • exhaustive
       • resist
         • manipulation
         • irrational appeals
   • Judgment
     • We are thinking critically when we
       • Recognize
         • the relevance
         • merit of alternative assumptions
         • perspectives

4. Critical thinkers are by nature skeptical

   • They approach texts with the same
     • skepticism
     • suspicion
   • In sum