Critical Thinking

-Introduction-The Elements of Thought- The Standards

“He had learned how to pass examinations by ‘cramming’; that is, in three or four days and nights he could get into his head enough of a selected fragment of some scientific or philosophical or literary or linguistic subject to reply plausibly to six questions out of ten. He could retain the information necessary for such a feat just long enough to give a successful performance; then it would evaporate utterly from his brain, and leave him undisturbed.”From the Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington (1918)

Critical Thinking1. Can you give me an example?2. Do you have any evidence of ..?3. Can you be more specific about or clarify…?4. How does this relate to your point?5. Is there another way you can look at that?6. Does that really make sense?

THE STANDARDS

Clarity Precision

Accuracy Significance

Relevance Completeness

Logic Fairness

Breadth Depth

THE ELEMENTS

Purpose Question

Points of View Inferences

Concepts Implications

Assumptions Information

INTELLECTUAL TRAITS

Intellectual Humility Intellectual Perseverance

Intellectual Autonomy Confidence in Reason

Intellectual Integrity Intellectual Empathy

Intellectual Courage Fairmindedness

Must be

applied to

As we learn

to develop

Information

-observations

-experiences

-data,facts

Elements of

Thought

Purpose

-goal

-objective

Question

-problem

-issue

Interpretation

& Inference

-conclusions

-solutions

Point of View

-frame of reference

-perspective

Implications

& Consequences

Assumptions

-presuppositions

-taking for grantedConcepts

-theories

-definitions

-laws

-principles

-models

Intellectual Standards

Clarity

Accuracy

Precision

Relevance

Depth

Understandable, meaning can be grasped

Free from errors or distortions

Consistent, exact to the necessary detail

Relating to the matter at hand

Containing complexities and inter-relationships

Intellectual Standards

Breadth

Logic

Significance

Fairness

Encompassing multiple viewpoints

The parts make sense together with no contradictions

Focusing on the important, not the trivial

Justifiable, not self-serving

Elements of

Thought

-clarity

-significance

-precision

-clarity

-precision

-significance

-relevance

-logic

-relevance

-fairness

-fairness

-clarity

-breadth

-relevance

-significance

-logic

-precision

-clarity

-logic

-significance

-fairness

-clarity

-relevance

-depth

-accuracy

-clarity-accuracy-relevance-fairness

Interpretation& Inference

Information

Question

PurposePoint of View

Implications &

Consequences

Assumptions

Concepts