Vincent AcelingThinkingCap
October 11th 2007 14:22
Critical Thinking
© Robin Wood 2002
Permission is granted to reproduce this document for personal use, or not-for-profit distribution,
as long as the entire document is reproduced, including this notice.
What is Critical Thinking?
Critical Thinking is the process of using reasoning to discern what is true, and what is false, in the phrases and "sound bytes" we hear everyday. Part of it involves being familiar with logic and logical fallacies - those bits of false reasoning that are used to manipulate and mislead us. Part involves being able to separate facts from opinions. Part involves being fair and open minded; not dismissing anything without examination, and not accepting anything without examination, either. Part of it involves asking questions, of yourself and of others, because that is how we uncover the truth, and the motivations behind the arguments. Part involves self-regulation; the ongoing process of making sure that you have not fallen into any of the logical fallacies or rationalizations yourself. Ideal critical thinkers are open minded; ready and eager to explore all ideas and all points of view, including those alien or opposed to their own. They are not threatened by opposing views, because they are looking for the truth; they know that if they have it already, it will stand any scrutiny. And if they don't have it, they are willing to drop the falsehoods they have, and embrace it. Critical thinkers question everything; using their tools to ferret out the truth, wherever it may hide. The tools they use are Logic, Research, and Experience. Critical thinking can not only make you manipulation proof, it can open new vistas for you, as things previously hidden become clear.
What is Truth?
There are two kinds; Objective Truth, is true regardless of viewer, based on the
definitions of the words used. Many objective truths can be measured, but not all can. For instance, concepts such as love or justice are true for everyone, based on the definitions of the words. An example of Objective Truth is the statement, "Cats are quadrupeds." Subjective Truth, which varies from individual to individual, depending on that individual's beliefs and life experiences. An example of Subjective Truth is the statement, "I love cats." Subjective truths are usually not worth arguing about, since they only affect the person who holds them, and no one else.
What is Opinion?
Opinions are the conclusions that an individual forms regarding questions where the truth is not yet plain, or is impossible to discern. Opinions can be formed about either objective or subjective truth. Many opinions concern the future. We can make predictions, based on what we know about the present and the way things similar to this have played out in the past. But we cannot know the future until we get there. So we form opinions, and argue about it.
We also form opinions about the motivations of people we don't know, such as political figures or celebrities, and about things that are on a continuum, such as whether or not a particular person is moral, or if a window display is garish. As a general rule, the opinions of others should not be lightly dismissed; especially the opinions of those who disagree with you. But sometimes, the opinions are clearly off base. As an example, exaggerated for clarity, think of the color of the sea at a white sand beach in the Bahamas. You may think of it as blue. Someone else may call it blue-green, or aqua, or turquoise. All of these are valid. But if someone says it's "Cat." and starts to dangle a string in front of it, they are clearly way off base. All opinions should be considered. But some will clearly be erroneous. Not all opinions are equally valid. Critical thinking will help you sort out the valid ones, and help you change your own so that they become more valid.
What is Logic?
There are two kinds of logic. Formal logic deals almost exclusively with the form that arguments take. (All statements are considered arguments in formal logic.) It reduces everything to formulas, which are inherently either valid or fallacious. You can plug any statement you want into the formula to test it. Content doesn't matter. For all valid arguments, if the premises are true, the conclusion will also be true. (For the fallacious arguments, the conclusion may be either true or false, whether or not the premises are true. That's why they are fallacious; they neither prove nor disprove anything.) Informal logic deals in the sloppy context of vernacular English. It includes testing our own ideas for internal bias, realizing how the environment we live in shapes our thoughts, and examining our own reasoning process. It also involves reasoning based on the content of the arguments, not simply their form.
© Robin Wood 2002
Permission is granted to reproduce this document for personal use, or not-for-profit distribution,
as long as the entire document is reproduced, including this notice.
What is Critical Thinking?
Critical Thinking is the process of using reasoning to discern what is true, and what is false, in the phrases and "sound bytes" we hear everyday. Part of it involves being familiar with logic and logical fallacies - those bits of false reasoning that are used to manipulate and mislead us. Part involves being able to separate facts from opinions. Part involves being fair and open minded; not dismissing anything without examination, and not accepting anything without examination, either. Part of it involves asking questions, of yourself and of others, because that is how we uncover the truth, and the motivations behind the arguments. Part involves self-regulation; the ongoing process of making sure that you have not fallen into any of the logical fallacies or rationalizations yourself. Ideal critical thinkers are open minded; ready and eager to explore all ideas and all points of view, including those alien or opposed to their own. They are not threatened by opposing views, because they are looking for the truth; they know that if they have it already, it will stand any scrutiny. And if they don't have it, they are willing to drop the falsehoods they have, and embrace it. Critical thinkers question everything; using their tools to ferret out the truth, wherever it may hide. The tools they use are Logic, Research, and Experience. Critical thinking can not only make you manipulation proof, it can open new vistas for you, as things previously hidden become clear.
What is Truth?
There are two kinds; Objective Truth, is true regardless of viewer, based on the
What is Opinion?
Opinions are the conclusions that an individual forms regarding questions where the truth is not yet plain, or is impossible to discern. Opinions can be formed about either objective or subjective truth. Many opinions concern the future. We can make predictions, based on what we know about the present and the way things similar to this have played out in the past. But we cannot know the future until we get there. So we form opinions, and argue about it.
We also form opinions about the motivations of people we don't know, such as political figures or celebrities, and about things that are on a continuum, such as whether or not a particular person is moral, or if a window display is garish. As a general rule, the opinions of others should not be lightly dismissed; especially the opinions of those who disagree with you. But sometimes, the opinions are clearly off base. As an example, exaggerated for clarity, think of the color of the sea at a white sand beach in the Bahamas. You may think of it as blue. Someone else may call it blue-green, or aqua, or turquoise. All of these are valid. But if someone says it's "Cat." and starts to dangle a string in front of it, they are clearly way off base. All opinions should be considered. But some will clearly be erroneous. Not all opinions are equally valid. Critical thinking will help you sort out the valid ones, and help you change your own so that they become more valid.
What is Logic?
There are two kinds of logic. Formal logic deals almost exclusively with the form that arguments take. (All statements are considered arguments in formal logic.) It reduces everything to formulas, which are inherently either valid or fallacious. You can plug any statement you want into the formula to test it. Content doesn't matter. For all valid arguments, if the premises are true, the conclusion will also be true. (For the fallacious arguments, the conclusion may be either true or false, whether or not the premises are true. That's why they are fallacious; they neither prove nor disprove anything.) Informal logic deals in the sloppy context of vernacular English. It includes testing our own ideas for internal bias, realizing how the environment we live in shapes our thoughts, and examining our own reasoning process. It also involves reasoning based on the content of the arguments, not simply their form.
"Can we Balance the Thinking"
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