Critical Thinking - Reading 1

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Critical thinking has been described as "purposeful reflective judgment concerning what to believe or what to do." Critical in this sense does not mean disapproval or negative - there are many positive and useful uses of critical thinking. Critical thinking can occur whenever one judges, decides, or solves a problem; in general, whenever one must figure our what to believe or what to do, and do so in a reasonable way.

Critical thinking may also be described as "a persistent effort to examine any belief or supposed form of knowledge in the light of the evidence that supports it and the further conclusion to which it tends."

Skills important in critical thinking include giving consideration to:

Evidence through observation'

Context of judgment

Relevant criteria for making the judgment well

Applicable methods or techniques for forming the judgment

Applicable theoretical constructs for understanding the problem at hand.