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Critical Thinking

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Introduction to Critical Thinking

Chapter Outline

Following are the main learning objectives from the chapter.

What is Critical Thinking?

(See pgs. 1-2)

A. Students should understand what critical thinking is. More specifically, students should . . .

1. understand the distinction between the sense of the word, critical, as it is used in critical thinking from its sense as commonly used.

a. The common sense characterizes critical thought as "negative or fault-finding." b. The sense of critical as it is used in critical thinking means "involving or exercising skilled judgment or observation."

2. understand that critical thinking is a general term given to a wide range of cognitive skills and intellectual dispositions.

3. understand that critical thinking requires that thinking be disciplined according to clear intellectual standards.

Critical Thinking Standards

(See pgs. 2-8)

A. Students should become familiar with the basic intellectual standards discussed in the text and understand their relevance to critical thinking.

1. Students should be able to identify and explain some of the most central intellectual standards of Critical Thinking including, but not necessarily limited to the following:

a. Critical thinkers strive for clarity in both language and thought. To this end, students should . . .

1. understand the importance of clarity in avoiding miscommunication.

2. understand the importance of clarity in defining our goals and priorities.

3. understand the importance of clarity in assessing our talents and abilities.

b. Critical thinkers strive toward precision in the evaluation of issues. To this end, students should . . .

1. understand that critical thinking requires that we demand precise answers to precise questions.

c. Critical thinking demands that one pursue accurate information pertinent to issues. To this end, students should . . .

1. recognize the importance of accurate and timely information to making good decisions.

d. Critical thinkers demand that evidence be relevant to the conclusions drawn from it.

e. Critical thinkers strive for consistency. To this end, students should . . .

1. be able to recognize when two beliefs or claims are logically inconsistent.

2. be able to discern when a person is guilty of practical inconsistency.

f. Critical thinkers strive to be logically correct. To this end, students should . . .

1. understand the importance of reasoning from your beliefs to conclusions which logically follow from them.

g. Critical thinkers strive to understand an issue in its completeness.

h. Critical thinkers strive toward fairness. To this end, students should . . .

1. understand the importance of being open-minded to the views which may contrast with your own.

2. understand the importance of impartiality and avoiding distorting biases and other preconceptions.

The Benefits of Critical Thinking

(See pgs. 8-11)

A. Students should be aware of the benefits of critical thinking for the both thinker and society. To this end, students should . . .

1. understand how critical thinking can improve your academic performance by developing the following skills:

a. understanding the arguments and views of others

b. critically evaluating those arguments and views

c. developing and defending one's own well-supported arguments and views

2. understand how critical thinking skills can improve your performance in the workplace

3. grasp the value of critical thinking in dailylife.

a. Critical thinking helps us to avoid making foolish decisions.

b. Critical thinking promotes an informed and concerned citizenry capable of making good decisions on important social, political and economic issues.

c. Critical thinking aids in the development of autonomous thinkers capable of examining their assumptions, dogmas, and prejudices.

Barriers to Critical Thinking

(See pgs. 11-18)

A. You should understand the complex reasons why uncritical reasoning is so common.

1. You should be aware of the risks to fair-minded thinking posed by egocentrism as well as . .

a. recognize the impact of self-interested thinking on our thinking.

b. understand the peril of self-serving bias.

2. Students should recognize the hazards of sociocentrism as well as . . .

a. grasp the danger posed by group bias.

b. understand the risks associated with the herd instinct or conformism.

3. You should understand the role which assumptions play in our thinking as well as. . .

a. recognize that some assumptions are warranted by the fact that we have good reasons to believe them;

b. recognize that an unwarrantedassumption is something we take for granted without good reason;

1. understand our tendency to stereotype;

c. understand the importance of becoming conscious of those assumptions we rely upon in forming our more important attitudes, conclusions, actions and decisions.

Characteristics of a Critical Thinker

(See pgs. 21-22)

A. Students should be familiar with the traits of critical thinkers and how they contrast with those of uncritical thinkers.

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