Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Reflection

“Reflect on what I am saying for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” (2 Timothy 2: 7, NABRE)

Critical thinking is the ability to review claims and make objective judgments on the basis of well-supported information. It is the ability to look for flaws in arguments that have no supporting evidence. Critical thinking fosters the ability to be creative.

It generates explanations for findings, and applies new knowledge to a broad range of social and personal problems. It's only when you question what is that you can begin to imagine what can be. To be a critical thinker, here is what you need to do:

1.   Analyze assumptions and biases: All of us are subject to beliefs that prevent us from being impartial. Evaluate your assumptions that lie behind arguments. 

 

2.   Ask questions, and be willing to wonder: Always be on the lookout for questions that have not been answered in the textbooks by the experts in the field or by the media. Be willing to ask questions like: "What's wrong here?”  "Why is this the way it is?” “How did it come to be this way?"

 
3.   Avoid emotional reasoning: Passionate commitment to a view can motivate a person to think boldly without fear of what others will say. When emotional reasoning replaces clear thinking, the results can be disastrous.

 
4.   Consider other interpretationsFormulate theories that offer reasonable explanations of characteristics, behavior, or events.

 
“Responsibility to yourself means refusing to let others do your thinking, talking, and naming for you. It means learning to respect and use your own brains and instincts; hence, grappling with hard work.” (Adrienne Rich)

5.   Define the problem:  An insufficient formulation of a question can produce incomplete answers. Ask neutral questions that don't presume answers.
 

6.   Don't oversimplify: Look beyond the obvious generalizations, reject either/or thinking, and don't argue by what you’ve heard (from someone else). Get the facts for yourself.

 
7.   Examine the evidence: Ask yourself, "What evidence supports or denies this argument?" Just because the experts believe it ; doesn't make it so.

 

8.   Tolerate uncertainty: Sometimes the evidence merely allows us to draw cautious conclusions. Don't be afraid to say "I don't know." Don't push for an answer (that could possibly be wrong).

"The philosopher Richard Paul has described three kinds of people: vulgar believers, who use slogans and platitudes to bully those holding different points of view into agreeing with them; sophisticated believers, who are skilled at using intellectual arguments, but only to defend what they already believe; and critical believers, who reason their way to conclusions and are ready to listen to others." (Wade and Tavris)[i]




[i] Adapted from: “How to Be a Critical Thinker” by Carole Wade and Carol Tavris

Dedicated to my daughter, Allena Kinker

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