Critical Thinking (Chapter 8 – Part II)
Sunday, November 5th, 2006› What to think?
› How to think?
How is critical thinking different from problem-solving?
Critical thinking…
1. Does not aim at solving problems (although it might do so in the process) – looks at an issue from the viewpoint of several other interrelated (or un-interrelated) issues
2. Addresses internal states of the mind – values, beliefs, expectations, etc. (while problem-solving focuses on external issues)
Critical thinking is…
1. Reflective thinking focused on deciding what to believe or do
2. Better thinking
3. Distinguishing between thinking that is directed at clarifying (expounding) a goal
Twelve Critical Thinking Abilities (Ennis, 1987):
1. Focusing on the question
2. Analyzing arguments
3. Asking and answering questions of clarification
4. Judging the credibility of a source
5. Observing and judging observational reports
6. Deducing and judging deductions
7. Inducing and judging inductions
8. Making value judgments (evaluation)
9. Defining terms and judging definitions
10. Identifying assumptions
11. Deciding on an action
12. Interaction with others
Some terms clarified…
1. Knowledge – tool to think critically
2. Inference – making connection between two or more units of knowledge
3. Deduction – understanding a particular unit of knowledge by using already existing units of knowledge
4. Induction – discovering a particular unit of knowledge (often new) from the observation and gathering of different units of knowledge from a variety of settings (time and space)
5. Evaluation – decision-making – includes analyzing, judging, weighing, and making value judgments
6. Metacognition – ability to analyze one’s own decisions
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