Critical thinking involves applying logic and reasoning to new ideas and situations, seeing things openly and examining them from multiple angles. It allows people to understand others’ opinions and form well-rounded arguments. Open-mindedness, rationality, and empathy are important aspects of critical thinking. It is used in many fields, and is taught in schools through writing assignments and problem-solving.
Critical thinking is the ability to apply reasoning and logic to new or unfamiliar ideas, opinions, and situations. Thinking critically involves seeing things openly and examining an idea or concept from as many angles as possible. This important skill allows people to look beyond their own view of the world and better understand the opinions of others. It is often used in debates, to form more persuasive and well-rounded arguments, and in science.
Open minded approach
The ability to think critically is essential, as it creates new possibilities in problem solving. Being “open-minded” is an important part of critical thinking, which enables a person to not only seek out all possible answers to a problem, but also accept an answer that is different from the one originally intended. Open thinking requires that a person not assume that their way of approaching a situation is always best, or even right. A scientist, for example, must be open to the idea that the results of an experiment will not be as expected; such achievements, while challenging, often lead to extraordinary and significant discoveries.
Rational considerations
Another aspect of critical thinking is the ability to rationally approach a problem or situation. Rationality requires analyzing all known information and making judgments or analyzes based on fact or evidence, rather than opinion or emotion. An honest approach to reasoning requires a thinker to recognize personal goals, motivations, and emotions that might influence his or her beliefs or thought processes. Rational thinking involves identifying and eliminating biases so that someone can have a fresh and objective approach to a problem.
Empathy
Critical thinking often relies on the ability to see the world in a way that doesn’t focus on oneself. Empathizing with a person usually involves a thinker trying to put himself in someone else’s place. This is often done by history students, for example, in an attempt to see the world as it would be for someone living in an ancient civilization or during a violent conflict. Communication skills, teamwork, and cooperation are usually enhanced through empathy, making it valuable in many professional fields.
How to apply it
Effective critical thinking often begins with a thinker analyzing what they know about a topic, with extra effort to acknowledge what they don’t know about it. This forms an initial knowledge base to consider. The thinker can then look at what research has been done on the subject and identify what he can learn simply by examining that work. This approach is often used in science, as it allows a scientist to determine what people don’t know or understand, and then look for ways to uncover this information through experimentation.
When someone applies this approach to their own life, they often place more emphasis on researching the biases and preconceptions they possess. This allows the thinker to strive to eliminate or avoid these opinions, to arrive at a more honest or objective view of an issue. Someone struggling with a fear of heights, for example, might struggle to determine the cause of this fear in a rational way. In doing so, he may be better able to address the root cause directly and avoid emotional responses that may impede self-improvement.
Common uses
Critical thinking is used in many situations. Students often use it to evaluate a book’s plot or a character’s motivations in a literature class. Members of a debate team often think critically about a topic to form a strong argument and anticipate points their competitors might make. Diets that utilize common sense, in which the focus is on how weight is gained and lost through calories and exercise, may require the dieter to think critically about their lifestyle. Many people use open-mindedness and empathy in their professional lives, enabling them to work better with others and complete tasks more effectively.
Teach this skill
School systems in the United States usually teach critical thinking from elementary school through college level courses. Teachers encourage students to learn through writing assignments and solving problems. For example, younger students might be asked how their lives would be different if they were born in a different country or in a different time period. Such assignments challenge students to let go of what they know about the world around them, to better consider other perspectives, and to apply new ideas to their own lives.
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