Lesson 2: Thinking and Memory

8 - Thinking Processes – Critical Thinking

All thinking depends on knowledge. If we know enough, we are always capable of critical thinking. But if we can make no sense of what we are trying to think about, critical thinking is impossible. Critical thinking is an attitude or frame of mind rather than a skill. It is a desire for or habit of determining the authenticity, accuracy, and worth of information. Thinking critically is not a process we switch on or off, but it is an inseparable part of thought on every occasion.

Critical thinkers must be ready to doubt, to challenge what is held to be true.The opposite of a critical thinker is a passive individual who accepts whatever he or she is told. A willingness to challenge ideas depends on a cluster of personal factors such as perseverance, readiness to pause and reflect, openness to controversy, relationships with other people, and image of oneself. Critical thinking challenges the status quo and examines personal beliefs.

Critical thinking requires a sharp assessment distinguishing between statements of fact and statements of opinion. For example, Labrador retrievers are a type of dog (fact); they are the most loyal dogs a person can own (opinion). Opinions may parade as facts and so might intentional, outright lies. We cannot distinguish facts and opinions except to have a thorough knowledge about the subject.

Here are some of the key components of critical thinking.