Why Begin with Critical Thinking?
(Wileytoons 20 January 2000, http://www.kenrahn.com/jfk/Critical_thinking/Intro_to_critl_thinking.html)
The prime definition of critical thinking is delightfully summarized here (“Critical Thinking,” 2010):
It makes sense to me, now, that we begin by reflecting on and practicing the ways of our thinking as a learning community. We begin by evaluating how we think. We begin by acknowledging that, working together, we will grow.
This is, after all, a PhD program at a respected institution, yes? Shouldn’t critical thinking be an admissions requirement? Or a prerequisite? With these questions, I ever-so-slightly began to doubt the intensity of a Fielding education. However, time to reflect and dialogue with my cohort has illuminated new perspective that I suspect may have helped me tap into the wisdom of starting us with this foundational topic.
(Wileytoons 20 January 2000, http://www.kenrahn.com/jfk/Critical_thinking/Intro_to_critl_thinking.html)
What Critical Thinking Is
As a cohort, we were asked to review Wikipedia and other suggested websites to guide our reflections on the nature of critical thinking. The materials emphasized the necessity for practical application of deliberation of premises, organization of thought, and an ability to recognize relevance and validity. Core skills included “observation, interpretation, analysis, inference, evaluation, explanation, and meta-cognition” (“Critical thinking,” 2011, “Skills,” para. 1).
What Critical Thinking Asks of Us
The study of critical thinking asks us to consider how we think, but perhaps more essentially, who we are in relationship to our thinking.
Richard Paul’s work highlights methods for cultivating the capacity for critical thinking through defined development stages, and strategies for advancing progress. These strategies emphasize issues of character, emotionality, open-mindedness, group association, and rigor (Paul, 2001).
Specific traits associated with effective critical thinking include “intellectual humility, empathy, integrity, perseverance, courage, autonomy, confidence in reason” among others (“Critical thinking,” 2011, “Habits or traits of mind,” para. 2).
Further, without these traits, critical thinking is compromised. Individuals who lack maturity and openness can fall prey to self-deception rhetoric, fallacy, manipulation and may even be inclined to use the basic critical thinking competencies to perpetuate invalid or unsubstantiated argument (“Critical thinking,” 2011).
Critical thinking loses in a contest against reactive positioning.
What we Ask of Ourselves
In this assignment, where we are asked to each weigh in on the concept of critical thinking, and where we have shared with and challenged one another in forum discussion and in our published blogs, our cohort has set forth expectations of our learning community. Our newly formed, tiny ensemble has worked this week to declare, together, how we think and who we are in relationship to thinking.
Critical thinking, scholarly thinking, means we must visit and revisit, theory and evidence alongside our emotional attachments and personal inclinations.
This is not a lighthearted endeavor. It’s easy to agree with or add to our own reflections. Yet, when we encounter new or opposing thinking with the ability to truly consider it, the result can turn a belief upside down, challenge deep-rooted emotional attachments, or bump up against amygdala-level fears.
It can be difficult to know when one’s own thinking is obscured by shadow motivations; jealously, willfulness, greed, aggression are some of my favorites. I ask for, and promise you, persistence and compassion, in equal measure. As a cohort, we will be experiencing these challenges, together.
It makes sense to me, now, that we begin by reflecting on and practicing the ways of our thinking as a learning community. We begin by evaluating how we think. We begin by acknowledging that, working together, we will grow.
Critical thinking. (n.d.) In Wikipedia. Retrieved February 7, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_thinking
Critical thinking [Video file]. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngLm50FkJM4
Paul, R. & Elder, L. (2001). Critical thinking in everyday life: 9 strategies. The Critical Thinking Community. Retrieved February 7, 2011 from http://www.criticalthinking.org/articles/sts-ct-everyday-life.cfm
Wileytoons [Cartoon]. (2000, January 20). Retrieved February 13, 2011, from http://www.kenrahn.com/jfk/Critical_thinking/Intro_to_critl_thinking.html
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