What is critical thinking?

Suzanne · Sun Jul 05, 2009 2:47 pm

Interbane wrote:


	Quote: An examination of assumptions is a good thing. What good is a proposition that is taken for granted? What does it mean to take a proposition for granted? It means that for some reason, that proposition has never been scrutinized by you or another to determine the correctness of it's contents. Such assumptions should always be brought to light and examined, as long as it's done in fair measure. To ignore them is to ignore a potentially false belief system cornerstone.

This is excellent. Tom, if you have a problem with the above statement, it may be a social problem you are experiencing.

Thomas Hood wrote:


	Quote: Would you care to examine your assumption that an examination of assumptions is a good thing?

He did! Tom, your words are like those of a convicted criminal on his way to the gallows. Maybe there are ghosts in this world because you hung yourself weeks ago.

Suzanne · Sun Jul 05, 2009 4:02 pm

Thomas Hood wrote:


	Quote: Oh, Interbane, I would rather stand on a street corner and rant and rave and thump a bible than use derogatory imagery to describe an opponent.

Wrong

Thomas Hood wrote:


	Quote: I suppose your attention is intermittent because of medication,

Keep going, this is getting fun now, dead man talking!

Chris OConnor · Sun Jul 05, 2009 5:19 pm

12 points for Suzanne. :clap:

Thomas Hood · Sun Jul 05, 2009 6:29 pm

Thomas Hood · Sun Jul 05, 2009 6:32 pm


	Chris OConnor wrote: 12 points for Suzanne.


	Quote: Maybe there are ghosts in this world because you hung yourself weeks ago.

I'm so pleased to see that Chris has advanced to a belief in spirits

Thomas Hood · Sun Jul 05, 2009 6:38 pm

Suzanne wrote:

Thomas Hood wrote:


	Quote: Oh, Interbane, I would rather stand on a street corner and rant and rave and thump a bible than use derogatory imagery to describe an opponent.

Wrong

What's wrong is that you didn't recognize it as an adaptation from Thomas Huxley, Darwin's bulldog. Medication can do that to a literate person

Thomas Hood · Sun Jul 05, 2009 7:28 pm

Suzanne received a new view of the The Life of Pi from Aussie_Lifter that changed her interpretation, and then says:


	Suzanne wrote: This is from the "Life of Pi" thread. As I wrote it I realized that I may have haphazardly provided examples of the critical thinking "virtues". Intellectual Humility: I have admitted that I may not have made the correct decision, "I'll have to give this book a second read" Intellectual Courage: I am admitting that my views on the book "Life of Pi", may have been wrong, and I am willing to accept anothers opinion in my evalutaion. "Thank you for this insight". Intellectual Empathy: I have admitted that I have benefited from the views of another. "I wonder what this says about me". Intellectual Integrity: I believe the author of this book is a credible source, I can now research the author, and scrutinize not only what Aussie_Lifter wrote, but I can revisit my own thoughts, "This is the only part of the book I thought was real". Intellectual Perseverance: With new information, I will now "read the book" again, to truly understand it's meaning. Faith In Reason and, Fairmindedness: Assie_Lifter had new information, presented it in a reasonable, rational way, I have used reason and fairmindedness, and have accepted this new information, and will consider it upon my second reading of "The Life of Pi".

Yes, I agree. It is a fine example of the Seven Virtues of Critical Thinking, -- and also of its Seven Deadly Sins. Instead of turning to text and context autonomously and making up your mind independently, you are dependent upon another person for your views. Critical thinking replaces objective, independent thought with social dependence.

What I asked of Interbane was:


	Quote: Give me one example of how critical thinking has helped anyone to solve a problem or discover new knowledge.

Views that you copy from others are neither your solution to a problem nor new knowledge. However pleasant the social activities of Critical thinking may be to some, they cannot replaces objective work -- personal investigation, research, and responsibility.

Tom

johnson1010 · Sun Jul 05, 2009 8:26 pm

your so-called seven virtues of critical thinking are not in any way indicative of a cannon of thought for critical thinking.

would you be appeased, ye god of misinterpretation, if it were called something else? perhaps some dry crag of your brain has been snagged by this term?

have you taken note that you are the only person trying to defend critical thinking as some kind of institution? what has every person here said critical thinking is?

Geo summed it up most elequently:

Critical thiking = Thinking Critically.

There is nothing about it any more scandalous than this TH.

at this point it seems more like a defense of language against a very confused and hoplessly polarized assertion about what it is we are all supposed to be thinking. You want us all to belong to some boogey-man club where we recline in paper-mache sofas made from the tattered remnants of despoiled bibles. There is no scary conspiracy, no liberal agenda to confound your mind with deliberate thinking.

Why don't you do us all a favor and describe what it is you imagine is the process of critical thinking. Please include any description of critical thinking accoutrement that will be needed for the ritual.

i present the following example of how critical thinking was employed. feel free to ignore the contents of what follows, or twist it to mean something entirely besides what the intent was, as is your usual M.O.

The earth-centric solar system.
Aristotelian Cosmology contended that all objects in the night sky orbited the earth. this was the geocentric model.

With the invention of the telescope it was observed by Galileo that Jupiter appeared to have moons of it's own. 3 dim stars were seen to reside in the space near the colossal planet, when later observed one had disappeared.

Despite what everyone KNEW about the universe and it's workings Galileo could not escape the idea that the apparent stars were orbiting Jupiter. This conflicts, if you did not realize it yet, with the geocentric model. The Geocentric model, it so happens, was well supported by the established religion of the time and scripture, with such quotes as:

Psalms 19:4-6
yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes forth like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and like a strong man runs his course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and there is nothing hid from its heat.

Ecclesiastes 1:5
The sun rises and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises.

1 Chronicles 16:30
tremble before him, all earth; yea, the world stands firm, never to be moved.

despite tremendous pressure from without, and the commonly held belief, and surely what he was taught, that the earth was the center and all revolved around it, Galileo confronted his own mis-conceptions about the workings of the universe to work out a heliocentric, or sun-centered, model.

To be specific: Critical thinking is clearly employed here to determine that the moons of Jupiter did not just disappear, as it seemed, but must be orbiting the planet. A discovery that went against common views of the times and was probably not a welcome bit of insight for him to consider telling the pope.

If you feel compelled to see if this scenario fits your "seven virtues of critical thinking" do try them on for size, but i assure you TH, they are not the be-all end-all of critical thinking.

You still are looking for a special yard stick to crack across our knuckles and prove to us that we practice a religion as surely as you do TH, but your tired assertions fall well short of truth, and indeed common sense.

geo · Sun Jul 05, 2009 9:23 pm


	imthemary wrote: Wow, I'm glad I've joined this forum. Critical thinking is the theme of my English 101 class, and this is a good resource. We're focusing on criting thinking to analyzle writing, so we focus mainly on the author's motivations and sources they've used. Basically, don't passively accept the views that are being shown to you. Ask questions and do research to form an opinion on the subject. I like the way the website broke it down with Intellectual Humility, Intellectual Courage, Intellectual Empathy, Intellectual Integrity, Intellectual Perseverance, Faith In Reason and, Fairmindedness. That's the best definition I've read. By the way, I'm new, so hi to everyone. I'm Angela. Nice to meet you.

Welcome aboard, Angela. I think it sounds like a great idea to use critical thinking as a theme in your class. I'd like to know, how does your teacher incorporate critical thinking into Eng 101? Is there a particular textbook you are using? I believe Eng 101 is essentially a composition class. Is that right? So does that mean you are going to incorporate critical thinking into your writing assignments? Thanks for any info you can provide.

Suzanne · Sun Jul 05, 2009 9:47 pm

Geo is back, yeah!

Hello and welcome Angela!

A breath of fresh air!

Is critical reading part of your classes as well?

Thomas Hood · Sun Jul 05, 2009 9:48 pm


	johnson1010 wrote: your so-called seven virtues of critical thinking are not in any way indicative of a canon of thought for critical thinking.

That's true, Johnson, because critical thinking isn't thinking. It's emoting.


	Quote: would you be appeased, ye god of misinterpretation, if it were called something else?

I don't care what it's call, but I would like for people to be more independent, creative, and productive, which some of them will be when they give up the critical thinking shortcut to thinking.


	Quote: have you taken note that you are the only person trying to defend critical thinking as some kind of institution?

Gee, if I had a crowd behind me I'd feel so much surer of myself

Did Alfred Wagener need a crowd? Did Ignaz Semmelweis need a crowd? Did Galileo need a crowd? . . . .


	Quote: Geo summed it up most elequently: Critical thinking = Thinking Critically. There is nothing about it any more scandalous than this TH.

Alas, Johnson, that is scandalous:


	Quote: A circular definition is one that assumes a prior understanding of the term being defined. By using the term(s) being defined as a part of the definition, a circular definition provides no new or useful information; . . . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circular_definition


	Johnson1010 wrote: i present the following example of how critical thinking was employed. . . . The earth-centric solar system. Aristotelian Cosmology contended that all objects in the night sky orbited the earth. this was the geocentric model. With the invention of the telescope it was observed by Galileo that Jupiter appeared to have moons of it's own. 3 dim stars were seen to reside in the space near the colossal planet, when later observed one had disappeared. Despite what everyone KNEW about the universe and it's workings Galileo could not escape the idea that the apparent stars were orbiting Jupiter. despite tremendous pressure from without, and the commonly held belief, and surely what he was taught, that the earth was the center and all revolved around it, Galileo confronted his own mis-conceptions about the workings of the universe to work out a heliocentric, or sun-centered, model. . . .

Johnson, you are poorly informed about the history of science. Copernicus died before Galileo was born, and Galileo knew Copernicus's system. The earth was described as a sphere in the Tractatus de Sphaera of Sacrobosco (c. 1195 – c. 1256), the standard medieval textbook in its field. The educated knew that the earth was round and had a good idea of its size. Colombus had difficulty getting support because the scholars in Spain who examined his proposal for the king rejected it since his figures were fudged to minimize the length of the trip. People weren't as ignorant as you suppose.

If you imagine that the irrational groupthink fog that is critical thinking has anything to do with Galileo, you are mistaken.

Tom

geo · Sun Jul 05, 2009 9:50 pm


	johnson1010 wrote: at this point it seems more like a defense of language against a very confused and hoplessly polarized assertion about what it is we are all supposed to be thinking.

I know I've been incommunicado for a few days. I'm on vacation and I'm doing fun stuff like biking, sailing, kayaking, eating crabs, etc. Also my internet hookup is not great.

This thread has taken off but seemingly not in a very constructive way. Many of us are trying to convince Thomas of the benefits and rewards of using critical thinking in our daily lives and johnson has provided some excellent historic examples of how critical thinking has helped to yield great advances in science. But Thomas is so convinced that critical thinking is a bunch of hooey (I'm paraphrasing here) and I am reminded of that saying that "you cannot reason people out of a position they have not reasoned themselves into."

Then it occurs to me that I don't really know what Thomas' criticisms of critical thinking are. I do suspect that Thomas is harboring precious beliefs that he feels are being threatened, but until he better articulates his position, I don't think it's going to be very useful to argue with him.

For example, Thomas has expressed concerns that critical thinking is part of a liberal agenda. But what does he base this on? Can we have some examples of this liberal conspiracy (if that is what is being alleged)?

That said, I'll have to agree that critical thinking has become a sort of buzz term used in many different situations. We've all expressed here what critical thinking means for us individually, but I wonder, in its general use has critical thinking become a vague sort of term that means think better? Is it possible that critical thinking is being used as a sort of meme?

meme: Richard Dawkins first introduced the word in The Selfish Gene (1976) to discuss evolutionary principles in explaining the spread of ideas and cultural phenomena. He gave as examples melodies, catch-phrases, and beliefs (notably religious belief), clothing/fashion, and the technology of building arches. - Wikipedia

As such, is it possible that critical thinking is being used as a way to propagate group think, only instead of furthering religious ideas it is being used to advance an atheistic or liberal agenda?

I only ask this in the spirit of "Intellectual Courage" one of Ellis' "valuable intellectual traits. Here is that definition again:


	Quote: Intellectual Courage - Having a consciousness of the need to face and fairly address ideas, beliefs or viewpoints toward which we have strong negative emotions and to which we have not given a serious hearing. This courage is connected with the recognition that ideas considered dangerous or absurd are sometimes rationally justified (in whole or in part) and that conclusions and beliefs inculcated in us are sometimes false or misleading. To determine for ourselves which is which, we must not passively and uncritically "accept" what we have "learned." Intellectual courage comes into play here, because inevitably we will come to see some truth in some ideas considered dangerous and absurd, and distortion or falsity in some ideas strongly held in our social group. We need courage to be true to our own thinking in such circumstances. The penalties for non-conformity can be severe.

So, yes, in a sense I'm thinking critically about the possibility of a larger and distorted use of the term, "critical thinking." Is there some truth there?

Chris OConnor · Sun Jul 05, 2009 10:52 pm

Drunk Driving = driving drunk

Frank 013 · Sun Jul 05, 2009 11:27 pm


	Quote: TH The truth stands alone.

Oftentimes so do the unreasonable… you are sounding more and more like the latter.


	Quote: TH My objection to critical thinking is that it is a compulsory and subjective social activity, not thinking, which in my experience is best done quietly and alone.

And is in fact wrong… so wrong that you are embarrassing yourself and making yourself look like an idiot.


	Quote: TH Angela is getting critical thinking (of which she apparently approves) in English 101, a compulsory course, necessary for graduation from college. If she were to resist critical thinking indoctrination, her options in life could be seriously impacted.

Critical thinking classes are not indoctrination but training… but you are correct that by resisting this training she would severely limit her career options… because she would think stupidly.


	Quote: TH I hope, Frank, that you will rest your ad hominem arguments for awhile and give us your take on the Seven Virtues of critical thinking:

First of all that definition is just one more of many…

Here is one…


	Quote: Critical thinking: disciplined intellectual criticism that combines research, knowledge of historical context, and balanced judgment. Encarta Dictionary

And another


	Quote: Critical thinking: is purposeful and reflective judgment about what to believe or what to do. Ennis (1985)

Another…


	Quote: Critical thinking: Critical thinking is the use of those cognitive skills or strategies that increase the probability of a desirable outcome. It is used to describe thinking that is purposeful, reasoned and goal directed - the kind of thinking involved in solving problems, formulating inferences, calculating likelihoods, and making decisions when the thinker is using skills that are thoughtful and effective for the particular context and type of thinking task. Critical thinking also involves evaluating the thinking process - the reasoning that went into the conclusion we've arrived at the kinds of factors considered in making a decision. Critical thinking is sometimes called directed thinking because it focuses on a desired outcome. Halpern, Diane F. Thought and Knowledge: An Introduction to Critical Thinking. 1996.

Another…


	Quote: Critical thinking: Critical thinking is the development of cohesive and logical reasoning patterns. Stahl and Stahl, 1991.

Another…


	Quote: Critical thinking: Critical thinking is careful and deliberate determination of whether to accept, reject, or suspend judgment. Moore and Parker, 1994.

Another…


	Quote: Critical thinking: Critical thinking is "a process which stresses an attitude of suspended judgment, incorporates logical inquiry and problem solving, and leads to an evaluative decision or action." NCTE Committee on Critical Thinking and the Language Arts.

That is just a few of the many I have found…

Do you have any idea why critical thinking has so many definitions?

Because it is a process, a tool that can be used many ways, there is no one way to think critically. I do think that Geo may have hit on an important point the term critical thinking may be a buzz term for any rational, logical thinking process that repeatedly yields accurate results.

This seems to be supported by the vast number of definitions out there.

There are of course rules and “virtues” that help a person better manage their thinking process, but those guidelines are not propaganda any more than learning the rules of algebra is propaganda.

Finally sharing my views with you on the virtues of critical thinking would be wasted effort… you have already made up your mind… however (for the rest of the participants) I think those are good guidelines to strive for when thinking… and I think Suzanne did a good job of showing how those “virtues” work when thinking critically.

Later

Robert Tulip · Sun Jul 05, 2009 11:57 pm


	geo wrote: critical thinking has become a sort of buzz term used in many different situations. We've all expressed here what critical thinking means for us individually, but I wonder, in its general use has critical thinking become a vague sort of term that means think better? Is it possible that critical thinking is being used as a sort of meme?...As such, is it possible that critical thinking is being used as a way to propagate group think, only instead of furthering religious ideas it is being used to advance an atheistic or liberal agenda?…So, yes, in a sense I'm thinking critically about the possibility of a larger and distorted use of the term, "critical thinking." Is there some truth there?

Great post Geo. A sociological decomposition of critical thinking will reveal its association with key liberal trends. Primarily, critical thinking is hostile to religious acceptance of received wisdom, preferring to assess all claims against scientific evidence. It is a movement originating with Immanuel Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason, a main inaugural enlightenment text of critical thought, and very influential on enlightenment thought in the USA.

Social assumptions which flow from Kantian logic, such ideas as modernity, science, reason, liberty, are seen as intrinsically critical, while traditional reaction to these ideas of the enlightenment is seen as backward, ignorant and self-serving. Kant was known as the ‘all-destroyer’ for applying critical reason to assessment of religious claims, so this problem, essentially the merits of piety, is a central issue for philosophy and culture.

The critical attitude is good, but it can also calcify in an uncritical way into a sort of group view, for example the assumption that atheism is smart and theism is stupid. People holding this assumption will use it as a prejudice, seeing religious language as stupid and backward and scientific language as intelligent and progressive, and considering society as split between good (modern) and evil (traditional). The problem here is that such divisions are very unclear and dubious. There is a lot in traditional culture which is valid and adaptive, but modern culture has a tendency to want to sweep all tradition away. Of course this tendency is chastened by memory of the tumbrils and the terror, but revolutionary fanaticism remains beneath the surface in the condescending attitudes of moderns towards piety and ritual.

RT

What is critical thinking? Tweet This Topic

Who is online

Casual Chats