What is Critical Thinking?

When examining the vast literature on critical thinking, various definitions of critical
thinking emerge. Here are some samples:

 "Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully

conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information
gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or
communication, as a guide to belief and action" (Scriven, 1996).
 "Most formal definitions characterize critical thinking as the intentional application
of rational, higher order thinking skills, such as analysis, synthesis, problem
recognition and problem solving, inference, and evaluation" (Angelo, 1995, p. 6).
 "Critical thinking is thinking that assesses itself" (Center for Critical Thinking,
1996b).
 "Critical thinking is the ability to think about one's thinking in such a way as 1. To
recognize its strengths and weaknesses and, as a result, 2. To recast the
thinking in improved form" (Center for Critical Thinking, 1996c).

Perhaps the simplest definition is offered by Beyer (1995) : "Critical thinking...

means making reasoned judgments" (p. 8). Basically, Beyer sees critical thinking
as using criteria to judge the quality of something, from cooking to a conclusion
of a research paper. In essence, critical thinking is a disciplined manner of
thought that a person uses to assess the validity of something (statements, news
stories, arguments, research, etc.)

Characteristics of Critical Thinking

Wade (1995) identifies eight characteristics of critical thinking. Critical thinking involves
asking questions, defining a problem, examining evidence, analyzing assumptions and
biases, avoiding emotional reasoning, avoiding oversimplification, considering other
interpretations, and tolerating ambiguity. Dealing with ambiguity is also seen by Strohm
& Baukus (1995) as an essential part of critical thinking, "Ambiguity and doubt serve a
critical-thinking function and are a necessary and even a productive part of the process"
(p. 56).

Another characteristic of critical thinking identified by many sources is metacognition.

Metacognition is thinking about one's own thinking. More specifically, "metacognition is
being aware of one's thinking as one performs specific tasks and then using this
awareness to control what one is doing" (Jones & Ratcliff, 1993, p. 10).

In the book, Critical Thinking, Beyer elaborately explains what he sees as essential
aspects of critical thinking. These are:

 Dispositions: Critical thinkers are skeptical, open-minded, value fair-

mindedness, respect evidence and reasoning, respect clarity and
 precision, look at different points of view, and will change positions when
reason leads them to do so.
 Criteria: To think critically, must apply criteria. Need to have conditions
that must be met for something to be judged as believable. Although the
argument can be made that each subject area has different criteria, some
standards apply to all subjects. "... an assertion must... be based on
relevant, accurate facts; based on credible sources; precise; unbiased;
free from logical fallacies; logically consistent; and strongly reasoned" (p.
12).
 Argument: Is a statement or proposition with supporting evidence. Critical
thinking involves identifying, evaluating, and constructing arguments.
 Reasoning: The ability to infer a conclusion from one or multiple premises.
To do so requires examining logical relationships among statements or
data.
 Point of View: The way one views the world, which shapes one's
construction of meaning. In a search for understanding, critical thinkers
view phenomena from many different points of view.
 Procedures for Applying Criteria: Other types of thinking use a general
procedure. Critical thinking makes use of many procedures. These
procedures include asking questions, making judgments, and identifying
assumptions.

Why Critical Thinking?

Oliver & Utermohlen (1995) see students as too often being passive receptors of
information. Through technology, the amount of information available today is massive.
This information explosion is likely to continue in the future. Students need a guide to
weed through the information and not just passively accept it. Students need to
"develop and effectively apply critical thinking skills to their academic studies, to the
complex problems that they will face, and to the critical choices they will be forced to
make as a result of the information explosion and other rapid technological changes"
(Oliver & Utermohlen, p. 1).

As mentioned in Characteristics of Critical Thinking , critical thinking involves

questioning. It is important to teach students how to ask good questions, to think
critically, in order to continue the advancement of the very fields we are teaching. "Every
field stays alive only to the extent that fresh questions are generated and taken
seriously" (Center for Critical Thinking, 1996a).

Beyer argues that to live successfully in a democracy, people must be able to think
critically in order to make sound decisions about personal and civic affairs. If citizens
think critically, then they can use good thinking as the guide by which they live their
lives.
References and Resources

 Angelo, T. A. (1995). Beginning the dialogue: Thoughts on

promoting critical thinking: Classroom assessment for critical
thinking. Teaching of Psychology, 22(1), 6-7.
 Beyer, B. K. (1995). Critical thinking. Bloomington, IN: Phi Delta
Kappa Educational Foundation.
 University of Sussex Academic Resources.
THE PROCESS OF CRITICAL THINKING AND ITS IMPORTANCE EXPLAINED
SIMPLY FOR LEEDS UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS

Why is critical thinking important? The decisions that you make affect your quality of life.
And if you want to ensure that you live your best, most successful and happy life, you’re
going to want to make conscious choices. That can be done with a simple thing known
as critical thinking. Here’s how to improve your critical thinking skills and make
decisions that you won’t regret.

What is Critical Thinking?

You’ve surely heard of critical thinking, but you might not be entirely sure what it really
means, and that’s because there are many definitions. For the most part, however, we
think of critical thinking as the process of analyzing facts in order to form a judgment.
Basically, it’s thinking about thinking.

How has the Definition Evolved over Time?

The first-time critical thinking was documented is believed to be in the teachings of

Socrates, recorded by Plato. But throughout history, the definition has changed. Today
it is best understood by philosophers and psychologists and it’s believed to be a highly
complex concept. Some insightful modern-day critical thinking working definitions
include:

 “Reasonable, reflective thinking that is focused on deciding what to believe or do.”

 “Deciding what’s true and what you should do.”

The Process of Critical Thinking

The process of critical thinking is highly systematic.

It involves goals and is triggered before and during goals identifications. Critical
thinking starts by defining your goals, and knowing what you are ultimately trying
to achieve.

It involves foresight. Once you know what you are trying to conclude, you can
foresee your solution to the problem and play it out in your head from all
perspectives.

How to Think Critically

Here are a few simple steps you must follow to improve your critical thinking.

 Define Your Question: When it comes to critical thinking, it’s important to always
keep your goal in mind. Know what you’re trying to achieve, and then figure out
how to best get there.
  Gather Reliable Information: Make sure that you’re using sources you can trust.
That’s how a real critical thinker operates!
 Ask The Right Questions: We all know the importance of questions, but be sure
that you’re asking the right questions that are going to get you to your answer.
 Look Short and Long Term: When coming up with solutions, think about both the
short- and long-term consequences. Both of them are significant in the equation.
 Explore All Sides: There is never just one simple answer, and nothing is black or
white. Explore all options and think outside of the box before you come to any
conclusions.

The Importance of Critical Thinking

Here are a few undeniable reasons why it’s crucial to have critical thinking skills.

1. Critical Thinking is Universal. Critical thinking is a domain-general thinking skill. What

does this mean? It means that no matter what path or profession you pursue, these
skills will always be relevant and will always be beneficial to your success. They are not
specific to any field.

2. Crucial for the Economy. Our future depends on technology, information, and
innovation. Critical thinking is needed for our fast-growing economies, to solve problems
as quickly and as effectively as possible.

3. Improves Language and Presentation Skills. In order to best express ourselves, we

need to know how to think clearly and systematically — meaning practice critical
thinking! Critical thinking also means knowing how to break down texts, and in turn,
improve our ability to comprehend.

4. Promotes Creativity. By practicing critical thinking, we are allowing ourselves not

only to solve problems but also to come up with new and creative ideas to do so. Critical
thinking allows us to analyze these ideas and adjust them accordingly.

5. Important for Self-Reflection. Without critical thinking, how can we really live a
meaningful life? We need this skill to self-reflect and justify our ways of life and
opinions. Critical thinking provides us with the tools to evaluate ourselves in the way
that we need to.

6. The Basis of Science and Democracy. In order to have a democracy and to prove
scientific facts, we need critical thinking in the world. Theories must be backed up with
knowledge. In order for a society to effectively function, its citizens need to establish
opinions about what’s right and wrong (by using critical thinking!).

More Individual Benefits of Critical Thinking

We know that critical thinking is good for society as a whole, but what are some benefits
of critical thinking on an individual level? Why is critical thinking important for us?
1. Key for Career Success. Critical thinking is crucial for many career paths. Not just for
scientists, but lawyers, doctors, reporters, engineers, accountants, and analysts (among
many others) all have to use critical thinking in their positions. In fact, according to the
World Economic Forum, critical thinking is one of the most desirable skills to have in the
workforce, as it helps analyze information, think outside the box, solve problems with
innovative solutions, and plan systematically.

2. Better Decision Making. There’s no doubt about it — critical thinkers make the best
choices. Critical thinking helps us deal with everyday problems as they come our way,
and very often this thought process is even done subconsciously. It helps us think
independently and trust our gut feeling.

3. Can Make You Happier. While this often goes unnoticed, being in touch with yourself
and having a deep understanding of why you think the way you think can really make
you happier. Critical thinking can help you better understand yourself, and in turn, help
you avoid any kind of negative or limiting beliefs, and focus more on your strengths.
Being able to share your thoughts can increase your quality of life.

4. Form Well-Informed Opinions. There is no shortage of information coming at us from

all angles. And that’s exactly why we need to use our critical thinking skills and decide
for ourselves what to believe. Critical thinking allows us to ensure that our opinions are
based on the facts, and help us sort through all that extra noise.

5. Better Citizens. One of the most inspiring critical thinking quotes is by former US
president Thomas Jefferson: “An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as
a free people.” What Jefferson is stressing to us here is that critical thinkers make better
citizens, as they are able to see the entire picture without getting sucked into biases and
propaganda.

6. Improves Relationships. While you may be convinced that being a critical thinker is
bound to cause you problems in relationships, this really couldn’t be less true! Being a
critical thinker can allow you to better understand the perspective of others, and can
help you become more open-minded towards different views.

7. Promotes Curiosity. Critical thinkers are constantly curious about all kinds of things
in life, and tend to have a wide range of interests. Critical thinking means constantly
asking questions and wanting to know more, about why, what, who, where, when, and
everything else that can help them make sense of a situation or concept, never taking
anything at face value.

8. Allows for Creativity. Critical thinkers are also highly creative thinkers, and see
themselves as limitless when it comes to possibilities. They are constantly looking to
take things further, which is crucial in the workforce.
9. Enhances Problem Solving Skills. Those with critical thinking skills tend to solve
problems as part of their natural instinct. Critical thinkers are patient and committed to
solving the problem, similar to Albert Einstein, one of the best critical thinking examples,
who said “It’s not that I’m so smart; it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” Critical
thinkers’ enhanced problem-solving skills makes them better at their jobs and better at
solving the world’s biggest problems. Like Einstein, they have the potential to literally
change the world.

10. An Activity for the Mind. Just like our muscles, in order for them to be strong, our
mind also needs to be exercised and challenged. It’s safe to say that critical thinking is
almost like an activity for the mind — and it needs to be practiced. Critical thinking
encourages the development of many crucial skills such as logical thinking, decision
making, and open-mindedness.

11. Creates Independence. When we think critically, we think on our own as we trust
ourselves more. Critical thinking is key to creating independence, and encouraging
students to make their own decisions and form their own opinions.

12. Crucial Life Skill. Critical thinking is crucial not just for learning, but for life overall!
Education isn’t just a way to prepare ourselves for life, but it’s pretty much life itself.
Learning is a lifelong process that we go through each and every day.

Critical Thinking During Solving Academic Questions

Critical thinking is developed in nearly everything we do. Yet applying critical thinking
while addressing questions posed to us during our academic courses is crucial for
success! Critical thinking goes beyond just thinking clearly — it’s also about thinking for
yourself. Think through the question, what it asks and what it does not ask. Is the
question valid. Now what content or resources answer the query or tasking in the
question. Question the validity and the applicability of resources. Question yourself what
have you learned or what is your opinion or value judgement. Could there be alternative
solutions; and so on.

How Does Critical Thinking Apply to Your Career?

Organizations value employees who are critical thinkers, ask questions, offer creative
ideas, and are always ready to offer innovation against the competition. No matter what
your position or role may be, critical thinking will always give you the power to stand out
and make a difference.

What is Someone with Critical Thinking Skills Capable of Doing?

Someone with critical thinking skills is able to think rationally and clearly about what
they should or not believe. They are capable of engaging in their own thoughts, and
doing some reflection in order to come to a well-informed conclusion.
A critical thinker understands the connections between ideas, and is able to construct
arguments based on facts, as well as find mistakes in reasoning.

What Does the Future of Critical Thinking Hold?

The future of critical thinking is the equivalent of the future of jobs. In 2020, critical
thinking was ranked as the 2nd top skill (following complex problem solving) by
the World Economic Forum.

We are dealing with constant unprecedented changes, and what success is today,
might not be considered success tomorrow — making critical thinking a key skill for the
future workforce.

Conclusion

Now coming back to the question, why is critical thinking important? Critical thinking is
more than just important! It’s one of the most crucial cognitive skills one can develop.

By practicing well-thought-out, organized thinking, both your thoughts and decisions can
make a positive change in your life, on both a professional and personal level. You can
hugely improve your life by working on your critical thinking skills as often as you can.

Reference
People’s University Library Resource