Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking

1. Richard Paul:

   • As Chair of the National Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking, author of more than 300 articles about the subject and four degrees from different universities. He is consider one of the main authorities on the field. He has created his own Analysis Model of Critical Thinking.

2. What it is?

   • Critical Thinking is a self- directed, disciplined, monitored, and corrective process, looking for excellence and mindfully using it. Problem solving abilities to solve ego- and socio- centrism. Evaluating your thinking process and self-improving it by means of awareness and establishing different views. Made up of: It is made-up of two aspects: Knowledge of the Elements of Thought and Basic Intellectual Standards.

3. The problem?

   • Humans usually think in a way to satisfy our own reality, by thinking selfishly, egocentrically, sociocentrically or seeking for self-validation or self-fulfilment. Hence critical thinking is used to left behind all these biases looking for the truth.

4. Resulting Characteristics:

   • As a result a critical thinker will be able to: Think openmindedly, communicates effectively, well reasoned conclusions, and questions vital things to solve up the problem assessed.

5. Reasoning Checklist:

   • Purpouse:
     • Clear realistic purpose and keep checking you are still on target.
   • Questions:
     • Make a clear question looking for meaning and then break it down into smaller ones. Distinguish between those raised from opinion, need multiple perspectives, from those definitive.
   • Assumptions:
     • Identify justifiable assumptions and consider how they change your view point.
   • Point of view:
     • Set your perspective and compare it with others, evaluating fairest as possible.
   • Information:
     • Gather info from multiple perspectives, relevant, accurate and clear to the matter.
   • Concepts:
     • Chose key concepts and considere alternatives.
   • Inferences / Conclusions:
     • Infer what evidence implies, check consistency.
   • Implications / Consequences:
     • Considere possible positive and negative implications and trace the ones following your reasoning.

6. SOURCES:

   • ·Dr. Richard Paul. (n.d.). Retrieved February 22, 2015, from http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/dr-richard-paul/818 ·Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2007). The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools. University of California, Berkeley: The Fundation for Critical Thinking.
     • By Raul Duran De Alba, A01229452