Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking

1. Definition

   • What is
     • Is a mental process in which a person use it knowledge and intelligence to aproach in an objective and assertive way to a position or a issue.
       • Being intelligent doesnt mean you are a critical thinker
       • Some people assure critical thinking is only for cold argumenta and other think is boring
       • Being a critical thinker not only means to be logical but also being objective.
       • Listents the positions and attemps to find a solution
         • This doesnt mean everyone must think alike but it means to listen other people positions and be able to analize them in a critical way.
         • Also must repect other peoples values and do not impose
   • What it isnt
     • Is a person that is only looking for flaws or buts in others poit of view. Is a negative person who gives up before starting.
       • It lets the emotions to interrupt his judgement and its arguments.
       • It is a person that belief everything science says.
       • Tries to persuate people

2. Steps to follow

   • Step 1
     • Adopt the attitude
       • He or she must be:
         • Open minded
         • Motivated
         • Free thinker
         • Healthy skepticism
         • Intellectual humility
       • Must be able to listen other people opinion without criticeze but to doubt if something decerve to be researched
         • Must be able to find errors in order to approach to the truth.
           • Must be able to listen arguments without being arrogant with other knowledge
             • He or she tries to open its persepective in different shades not only white and black or good and bad
             • It must be able to show its personal ideals and not let that the social presure affect its point of view
               • Must be a person that is motivated and has good actitude when is time to solve a problem.Also has the actitude to research and investigate if necessary
           • This doesnt mean that will look for flaws,he or she will look to improve as possible the idea. This also doent mean that he or she will please the other one saying everything is perfect.
   • Step 2
     • Recognize & Avoid Critical Thinking Hindrances
       • Is the ability of a critical thinker to put aside the problems or frustation that could affect his or her judgement.
         • There are 4 types of hindrances:
           • 1 Basic Human Limitations
             • We cant know everything, remember everything and do everything and that may affect how we see the world
               • Also everybody doesnt have the same experiences an talents and that is a human personal limitation
           • 2 Use of Language
             • You dont know each word in the world and other may not know all the words you know so you may hear and use complex language or technical words that make people difficult to understant you
               • A critical thinker must communicate in simple words to everybody understan what are you talking about.
           • 3 Faulty Logic or Perception
             • Misconception of a idea or a conclution
               • MIsunderstanding of graphics and numeric misundertandments
           • 4 Psychological and Sociological Pitfalls
             • Misconception of ideas or conclutions
               • Perseption can be affected by phycological problems or sociological beliefs
   • Step 3
     • Identify & Characterize Arguments
       • The ability to undesrtand an argument and divided in 3 important components to understand it better
         • Argument = Reason + Conclusion
         • Inductive
           • Are that conclution that needs arguments to be understood.
             • But these arguments are not necessarily true or they may not have the complete logical relation between them
               • The critical thinkers must prove the cogency of the arguments and define if they have relation with the solution
         • Deductive
           • Are those arguments that have a logial flow
             • All brother are annoying and Thomas is my brother. That why Thomas is annoying
   • Step 4
     • Evaluate Information Sources
       • Analize the validity of an argument by the source or link
         • Take into account that information can be manipulated, that is why the critical thinkers must analize and check the sources
           • You must never believe in numbers because they are manipulable and change easily
         • You as critical thinker must look for information in sources that are credible and accurate
           • Also when you evaluate a source you must ask this questions to yourself:
             • Does the information source have the necessary qualifications or level of understanding to make the claim (conclusion)?
             • Does the source have a reputation for accuracy?
             • Does the source have a motive for being inaccurate or overly biased?
             • Are there any reasons for questioning the honesty or integrity of the source?
   • Step 5
     • Evaluate arguments
       • 1 assumptions
         • Are arguments that are granded for true.
           • A critical thinker must annalize if a argument has any assuption and valid if it is true or false
             • If you arent sure if it is true or false you can research but if after the research you cant determinate its veracity you cant say is true or false
       • 2 Reasoning
         • Are the information in the arguments that lead to the conclution
           • Quality
             • The veracity of the information
             • The relevance of the argument
           • Quantity
             • The amount of arguments that support this.(Sufficient)
           • Criteria
             • Continue with the good actitude and be aware of the hindrances like in step 1 and 2
             • Ask yourself the purpose or the relevance of assuming the conclution. These will help you to determine how many armunets it will need
             • Be aware of the information and research about it if needed
             • Evaluate the strenght of the arguments
       • 3 Ommisions
         • Is information suppred or forgotten that may be in favor or agains the argument
           • Many people hide information or detail that could affect their conclution