CRITICAL THINKING

Whatever other people may think critical thinking means (and there are various viewpoints on
the matter), for the purposes of our discussions, let me propose this view. Critical thinking is not
the same as logic. I believe most people can be logical, whether or not they have taken formal
courses in the subject. But most people are not critical thinkers. That takes practice - a lot of
practice! For our purposes, critical thinking is primarily an attitude - a willingness and habit that
leads one to look at something that is said or written or thought, carefully, and with an open
mind.
Critical thinking in this sense is like the degree of attention that medical people give to a
person on the critical list. It means looking twice, and objectively, because the issue is very
serious. We wish to understand, because we think it is very important. Criticism, from this
perspective, includes not only trying very hard, without prejudice, to answer questions, and to
see what is the case. It also includes:
Analysis: (what goes into what we are criticizing);
Understanding: (what it means);
Relating: (to context, and other things we find relevant); and especially
Judgment: (evaluating it, for importance, for truth, for useful application, etc.).Critical thinking
certainly involves being reasonable, which often means giving reasons for our views, or asking
for the reasons given for other people's views. Reasons are what support and give strength to
important ideas - making them seem worthy of belief.
Critical thinking includes self-criticism. Let us be questioners.of ourselves, too What do I think?
What do I know? Do my own ideas make sense? Am I able to make necessary changes to my
own beliefs? Am I ignorant? Am I prejudiced? What would I like to use as a guide?
But, be careful here. Self-criticism is not-self-deprecation. The latter is destructive, rather than
constructive; it usually does more harm than good. Let us not assume either that we are good or

bad, in respect to our knowing and our ignorance. Rather, let us find out where we stand, and
then do what we think needs doing as a result. Improving our knowledge is always a good thing.
Of course we may not use knowledge for the right purposes, but that is another issue.
Whenever you, or anyone you are reading or listening to, is trying to convince another of the
truth of an idea, always bear in mind this first main question: WHAT'S THE POINT?" If that
question cannot be answered, perhaps you are wasting your time. In any case, critical thinking is
not happening. In trying to determine the point, we will be confronted with all kinds of verbal
expressions. Some of these expressions will be statements that support a conclusion. These are
'the reasons being given. Other expressions may be irrelevant. Learn to recognize what is the
nature of each expression, so that you can find out if it is a likely candidate for being the point, or
whether it is relevant to the point. For example, there are:
Questions: (never the point), e.g. How would you like that?
Epithets: (also not the point); e.g. Oh, what the hell!! or expressions of
Feelings: (not the point), e.g. I hate when you say that." or
Phrases; (incomplete thoughts) of various sorts, e.g. Oh, really? Whatever;
Ask what is the role that each expression is intended to play in the discussion or reasoning
process (i.e. in the argument)? The point must be a statement i.e. a sentence with a proper
subject and predicate.
Develop a sensitivity to what sort of statements there are that could be the point, and what sort
could not, and you will learn more easily how to spot the point when it is properly made. Look
for matters-of-fact, opinions, interpretations, self-evident statements, contradictions, tautologies,
generalizations (not all generalizations are suspect), platitudes (a fun word), universalizations,
definitions, transitional statements, etc.
Then begin to make judgments about what degree of strength each point being made has, and
what degree of acceptance each one merits. That is the game. Its so valuable, but its not easy, or
natural. I think anyone can get it with practice.