What's your thoughts on critical thinking

[T-Bone]

What’s your thoughts on critical thinking? What works for you when you’re trying to think clearly about something?

One of my favorite things about Grease Spot is being able to think out loud. On any given topic - I like it that ideas and feedback come from people with different viewpoints. In my opinion that is one of the most vital aspects of GSC and why I come here. It’s a group of critical thinkers getting together! Critical thinking is something we all do in varying degrees in just about everything we do – from car shopping to developing a viewpoint or belief system.

My first car was a used 1967 Chevy Malibu – GIVEN to me by my older brother. I didn’t scour the classifieds, test drive a few models – my brother being the motor-head that he was did all that, even fixed it up for me. Being a teenager – I wasn’t in a position to look a gift horse in the mouth. Years later – as an adult I did a lot of research before putting hard earned money down on my car of choice.

I liken my acceptance of PFAL to getting a car from my brother. I had no prior theological training, was impressed with how grads of PFAL seem to have answers for everything, and it looked to me like everything I ever wanted to know about the Bible was put together in one class – all the work was done for me! It took a major crisis [like the aftermath of Geer’s Patriarch] to show me the need for critical thinking in my belief system. Below I’ve copied some notes from two books that I thought might be helpful in the discussion.

The following is from Critical Thinking: Tools for Taking Charge of Your Professional and Personal Life by Richard Paul and Linda Elder, co. 2002, Financial Times Prentice Hall, pages 7,11,13,15:

“…Critical thinking is the disciplined art of ensuring that you use the best thinking you are capable of in any set of circumstances. The general goal of thinking is to “figure out the lay of the land.” We all have multiple choices to make. We need the best information to make the best choices…Our subconscious interest is often in getting what we want, not in describing ourselves [or the world] in a true and honest fashion. That being said, most of our concepts are ‘invisible’ to us, though implicit in our talk and behavior. So is much of our thinking! We would be amazed, and sometimes shocked, if we saw all of our thinking displayed for us on a large screen…You develop as a thinker when you explicitly notice the thinking you are doing and when you become committed to recognizing both strengths and weaknesses in that thinking. You develop as a thinker as you build your own ‘large screen’ on which to view your thinking…

…One of the most important things you can do for yourself is to begin the process of becoming a ‘critic’ of your thinking. You do this not to negate or ‘dump on’ yourself, but to improve yourself, to begin to practice the art of skilled thinking and lifelong learning. To do this you must ‘discover’ your thinking, see its structure, observe its implications, and recognize its basis and vantage point…

…The Problem - Everyone thinks. It is our nature to do so. But much of our thinking, left to itself, is biased, distorted, partial, uninformed, or downright prejudiced. Yet the quality of our life and that of what we produce, make or build depends precisely on the quality of our thought. Shoddy thinking is costly, both in money and in quality of life. Excellence in thought, however, must be systematically cultivated.

The Definition – Critical thinking is that mode of thinking – about any subject, content, or problem – in which the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking by skillfully taking charge of the structures inherent in thinking and imposing intellectual standards upon them.

The Result – A well-cultivated critical thinker:

· Raises vital questions and problems, formulating them clearly and precisely;

· Gathers and assesses relevant information, and effectively interprets it;

· Comes to well-reasoned conclusions and solutions, testing them against relevant criteria and standards;

· Thinks open-mindedly within alternative systems of thought, recognizing and assessing, as need be, their assumptions, implications, and practical consequences; and

· Communicates effectively with others in figuring out solutions to complex problems.

Critical thinking is, in short, self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking. It presupposes assent to rigorous standards of excellence and mindful command of their use. It entails effective communication and problem-solving abilities…”

As we work through problems in our critically thinking process – it is often to some end – to come to a decision or change our minds about something. Below, author Howard Gardner identifies seven factors that he suggests play a crucial role when we change our minds. The following is from pages 14 to 18 of Changing Minds: The Art and Science of Changing Our Own and Other People’s Minds, by Howard Gardner, co. 2004, Harvard Business School Press:

1. Reason. Especially among those who deem themselves to be educated, the use of reason figures heavily in matters of belief. A rational approach involves identifying of relevant factors, weighing each in turn, and making an overall assessment. Reason can involve sheer logic, the use of analogies, or the creation of taxonomies…an individual guided by rationality would attempt to identify all of the relevant considerations and weigh them proportionately.

2. Research. Complementing the use of argument is the collection of relevant data. Those with scientific training can proceed in a systematic manner, perhaps even using statistical tests to verify – or cast doubt on – promising trends. But research need not be formal; it need only entail the identification of relevant cases and a judgment about whether they warrant a change of mind…

3. Resonance. Reason and research appeal to the cognitive aspects of the human mind; resonance denotes the affective component. A view, idea, or perspective resonates to the extent that it feels right to the individual, seems to fit the current situation, and convinces the person that further considerations are superfluous. It is possible, of course, that resonance follows on the use of reason and/or research; but it is equally possible that the fit occurs at an unconscious level…Resonance often comes about because one feels a “relation” to a mind-changer, finds that person “reliable,” or “respects” that person…I note that rhetoric is a principal vehicle for changing minds. Rhetoric may rely on many components: In most cases, rhetoric works best when it encompasses tight logic, draws on relevant research, and resonates with an audience…

4. Representational Redescriptions. A change of mind becomes convincing to the extent that it lends itself to representation in a number of different forms, with these forms reinforcing one another…when it comes to matters of instruction – be it in an elementary school classroom or a managerial workshop – the potential for expressing the desired lesson in many compatible formats is crucial.

5. Resources and Rewards. …Sometimes, however, mind change is more likely to occur when considerable resources can be drawn on…[or if] Individuals are being rewarded for one course of behavior and thought rather than the other. Ultimately, however, unless the new course of thought is concordant with other criteria – reason, resonance, research, for example – it is unlikely to last beyond the provision of resources.

6. Real World Events. Sometimes, an event occurs in the broader society that affects many individuals, not just those contemplating a mind change. Examples are wars, hurricanes, terrorist attacks, economic depressions – or, on a more positive side, eras of peace and prosperity, the availability of medical treatments that prevent illness or lengthen life, the ascendancy of a benign leader or group or political party…

7. Resistance. The six factors identified so far can aid in an effort to change minds. However, the existence of only facilitating factors is unrealistic…While it is easy and natural to change one’s mind during the first years of life, it becomes difficult to alter one’s mind as the years pass. The reason, in brief, is that we develop strong views and perspectives that are resistant to change…

What’s your thoughts on critical thinking? What works for you when you’re trying to think clearly about something?

[George Aar]

T-bone,

Re:"What’s your thoughts on critical thinking?"

My thoughts are that it's not practiced much, either here at the cafe or in the outside world.

Knee-jerk responses, 10-second sound bites, and a-priori assumptions will do just fine for most it seems.

Why should we endulge in something that requires effort, when we can just subscribe to predigested aphorisms?

[Belle]

Well, Crusty Pottydunkin, I think I don't think nearly as much nor as critically as I think I do. :)

I've learned a lot from people here about critical thinking without calling it that. I've seen and watched interesting dialog, discussion and debate and learned to see how others think things through because we do have the freedom here to "think out loud". I think, I hope, I've gotten better at evaluating and looking at things from as many sides, angles and degrees as possible - the problem, however, is that this can lead to "analysis paralysis".

I'll have to think about that.....

[T-Bone]

Thanks for your input, Belle. And I don't think there's a problem with "analysis paralysis." I've noticed a few of your posts where you've stated "I don't know" on the topic. I'm that way on a lot of things. I've said before after MarkOmalley's poll on beliefs I could have answered "I don't know" on a lot of them. I'm comfortable with that. It's not like I've written any books so I've got to defend my position or that I'm a representative for some organization and have to promote their doctrine...I enjoy the freedom to think for myself and have some intellectual humility in that I realize I'm not perfect, make mistakes and I can learn from others.

Edited May 8, 2006 by T-Bone

[Mister P-Mosh]

I research the h3ll out of something before I make a decision, but I don't take long doing it. As I announced on another thread, my wife and I are going to become parents. As a result, we've been reading a lot on it. Everything from me finding out what my insurance policy covers, to buying a house, and of course most importantly the actual process of being pregnant and giving birth. We're halfway through about ten books, and we've read a lot of stuff online, plus talked to a friend of mine whose wife (an ob/gyn) is going to give birth in a month or two, and to another friend of mine who is an ob/gyn herself. Plus we've talked to people I work with, our relatives, friends, etc. and have as much information as possible.

Beyond that, there are the steps you listed of things such as putting ourselves in situations to be able to figure out how we would respond to them. How we would get to the hospital as quickly as possible, even in rush hour traffic. What money we need to save up to buy stuff in the upcoming months. All sorts of things are factors that we are working on.

Critical thinking is not just something nice, but it is necessary to live well. I take nothing on "faith" but instead research, think, plan, and act as I feel it is appropriate. It's helped me stay out of trouble in the past and get into a good thing when I see it as well.

[I Love Bagpipes]

...... I think I don't think nearly as much nor as critically as I think I do. :)

Belle....that's funny and worth repeating!

[T-Bone]

The following is from www.criticalthinking.org an excerpt of an article entitled The Elements of Reasoning and the Intellectual Standards by Richard Paul and Linda Elder

What follows are some guidelines helpful to students as they work toward developing their reasoning abilities:

1. All reasoning has a PURPOSE.

o Take time to state your purpose clearly.

o Distinguish your purpose from related purposes.

o Check periodically to be sure you are still on target.

o Choose significant and realistic purposes.

2. All reasoning is an attempt to FIGURE SOMETHING OUT, TO SETTLE SOME QUESTION, TO SOLVE SOME PROBLEM.

o Take time to clearly and precisely state the question at issue.

o Express the question in several ways to clarify its meaning and scope.

o Break the question into sub questions.

o Identify if the question has one right answer, is a matter of opinion, or requires reasoning from more than one point of view.

3. All reasoning is based on ASSUMPTIONS.

o Clearly identify your assumptions and determine whether they are justifiable.

o Consider how your assumptions are shaping your point of view.

4. All reasoning is done from some POINT OF VIEW.

o Identify your point of view.

o Seek other points of view and identify their strengths as well as weaknesses.

o Strive to be fair-minded in evaluating all points of view.

5. All reasoning is based on DATA, INFORMATION and EVIDENCE.

o Restrict your claims to those supported by the data you have.

o Search for information that opposes your position as well as information that supports it.

o Make sure that all information used is clear, accurate, and relevant to the question at issue.

o Make sure you have gathered sufficient information.

6. All reasoning is expressed through, and shaped by, CONCEPTS and IDEAS.

o Identify key concepts and explain them clearly.

o Consider alternative concepts or alternative definitions to concepts.

o Make sure you are using concepts with care and precision.

7. All reasoning contains INFERENCES or INTERPRETATIONS by which we draw CONCLUSIONS and give meaning to data.

o Infer only what the evidence implies.

o Check inferences for their consistency with each other.

o Identify assumptions which lead you to your inferences.

8. All reasoning leads somewhere or has IMPLICATIONS and CONSEQUENCES.

o Trace the implications and consequences that follow from your reasoning.

o Search for negative as well as positive implications.

o Consider all possible consequences.

[edited by T-Bone who is critically very nervous]

Edited May 12, 2006 by T-Bone

[SafariVista]

What’s your thoughts on critical thinking? What works for you when you’re trying to think clearly about something?

Hey T-Bone, thanks for sharing on this!

Your post here prompted all kinds of thought & emotion for me. Since my exit from TWI, critical thinking has been the key to my safety and peace of mind.

Your questions brought back MY first few months out of TWI. It was a sobering time. Flooded with many emotions. Feeling empty and alone, feeling free, yet, not knowing which way to go. Many tears, hours of piano playing, singing loudly… THINKING & THINKING some more…

OBSERVING life going on around me. WONDERING why the SIMPLE things in life SEEMED so foreign to me. HOW could I understand and attain this normalcy, fist as an individual, then for our family?

So, like anything NEW, critical thinking is taking time to learn and develop.

The following is from Critical Thinking: Tools for Taking Charge of Your Professional and Personal Life by Richard Paul and Linda Elder, co. 2002, Financial Times Prentice Hall, pages 7,11,13,15:

“…You develop as a thinker when you explicitly notice the thinking you are doing and when you become committed to recognizing both strengths and weaknesses in that thinking. You develop as a thinker as you build your own ‘large screen’ on which to view your thinking…

…One of the most important things you can do for yourself is to begin the process of becoming a ‘critic’ of your thinking. …

Again, what I notice in my own thinking, is the knee-jerk responses that fit with TWI logic & teaching... so the development begins, and it's DIFFICULT to say the least.

Excellence in thought, however, must be systematically cultivated.

What’s your thoughts on critical thinking? What works for you when you’re trying to think clearly about something?

My thought is, critical thinking is necessary for safety and quality of life. It is necessary for quality friendships to begin, grow and survive, and for an individual's peace of mind to be accquired and maintained.

The KEY working component of this process for me, at this time is being QUIET. Questioning and Learning about myself, and how it became the norm for me to blindly accept what TWI dished out. NOT allowing the knee-jerk responses to FLY. Observation in the beginning was painful, realizing HOW my robotic thought patterns were CUTTING out some of the most wonderful things in LIFE!

[I Love Bagpipes]

T-Bone..doesn't your brain ever get tired?!?

I think I'd end up in the critical care unit with all the thinkin' on critical thinkin'...snort.....

Edited May 22, 2006 by I Love Bagpipes

[T-Bone]

T-Bone..doesn't your brain ever get tired?!?

I think I'd end up in the critical care unit with all the thinkin' on critical thinkin'...snort.....

For those who ever suffer from the occasional tired-thinking syndrome try the Pill for Abundant Living -

http://www.greasespotcafe.com/ipb/index.php?showtopic=9592#

[editor's note: I'm not responsible for any weird side-effects from the Pill for Abundant Living]

Edited May 22, 2006 by T-Bone

[I Love Bagpipes]

I'll try some of that Tequila rx!!!!

Loosely prescribed that is.

[YIdon'tgotochurch]

I'd like to know:

What's so thinking about critical? ? ? ? ??

I mean:

What's so critical about thinking?

I mean:

What's the basis of critical thinking?

I mean:

How critical do I have to think for it to be considered "critical thinking"?

I mean:

Does random access thinking count for critical thinking?

I mean:

What was this topic?

What was I thinkin'?