Invitation to Critical Thinking Chapter 1

Lecture Notes

Chapter 1

Invitation to Critical Thinking Chapter 1

Overview

• What is critical thinking?

• Root words for critical thinking

• What does a critical thinker do?

• Benefits of critical thinking

• Aspects to critical thinking

• Resolving obstacles to critical thinking

Invitation to Critical Thinking Chapter 1

Invitation to Critical Thinking Chapter 1

What is critical thinking?

• Critical thinking – A set of conceptual tools used to make

decisions• Intellectual skills and strategies

• Reason-able process

– A mental ability • Disciplined intelligence

• Problem solving

Invitation to Critical Thinking Chapter 1

Root words for critical thinking

• krinein <Greek– Means decision-making

• kritikos <Greek: krinein– Means discernment or the ability to judge

• critical • criticism • critic • critique

• Critical thinking is concerned with decision-making and the skills needed to make good decisions.

Invitation to Critical Thinking Chapter 1

What does a critical thinker do?

A critical thinker

• looks more deeply into

– sources of our information

– assumptions underlying our beliefs

• determines what is at issue

• uses discipline

• uses creativity

Invitation to Critical Thinking Chapter 1

What does a critical thinker do?

A critical thinker• pursues truth• employs intellectual virtues

– patience– tenacity– humility– courage– tolerance– respect

Invitation to Critical Thinking Chapter 1

Benefits of critical thinking

Critical thinking empowers and improves chances of success

• in a career

• as a consumer

• in social roles in our community – personally, essential to personal autonomy – socially, essential to democratic system

Invitation to Critical Thinking Chapter 1

Aspects of critical thinking

• Issues – factual

– interpretive

– evaluative

– mere verbal dispute

• Claims– truth-statement with adequate support

– assumption: claim without support

• hidden assumptions undermine reliability of reasoning

Invitation to Critical Thinking Chapter 1

Resolving obstacles to critical thinking

Obstacle—relativism or subjectivism • Remedy—patience and tenacity in pursuit of the truthObstacle—egocentrism and ethnocentricity • Remedy— intellectual humilityObstacle—intimidation by authority • Remedy—intellectual independenceObstacle—conformism • Remedy—intellectual courageObstacle—unexamined and inferential assumptions, and

presuppositions • Remedy—examination of assumptions