Question

What is critical thinking? What kind of mindset should you develop to become an effective critical thinker? Is it important to understand what an argument is to be an effective critical thinker? Why or why not? In your essay, touch on Socrates and independent thinking as well as concepts such as truth. Be sure to provide examples in your essay.

Answer 1

The ability to think logically and rationally, to grasp the logical relation between concepts, is critical thinking. Since the time of early Greek philosophers such as Plato and Socrates, critical thinking has been the subject of much debate and analysis and has continued to be a topic of discussion into modern age, such as the ability to recognise false news. Critical thinking may be described as being capable of engaging in analytical, critical thought.

Critical thinking basically allows you to make use of your capacity to reason. It is about being an active learner rather than a passive recipient of information. Critical thinkers challenge theories and conclusions rigorously, instead of embracing them at face value. They will always try to decide if the entire picture is reflected by concepts, claims and results and are open to discovering that they do not.

Independent thinkers should systematically define, evaluate, and solve problems, rather than by intuition or instinct. Someone with the ability to think objectively can: grasp the relations between concepts. Determine the importance of statements and theories, and their validity. Recognize, construct, and appraise claims. Identify incoherences and reasoning faults. Consistent and systematic approach to question. Reflect on whether their own opinions, convictions and principles are justified. In many cases, logical thought is thought about problems in order to arrive at the best possible solution in the situations which the thinker is aware of. It's a way of talking about what's actually consuming your mind in more common terms, so that you come to the best possible conclusion.

The skills we need to think critically are varied and include observation, analysis, understanding, reflection, assessment, inference, description, problem-solving and decision-making.

Specifically we need to be able to: think objectively and critically about a subject or problem. Identify the growing claims that exist about a particular topic. Assess a point of view to decide how positive or true it is. Consider any flaws or negative points that the proof or claim includes. Remember what consequences a comment or claim might have behind it.

The theoretical origins of critical thinking are as ancient as their etymology, which can eventually be traced back to Socrates 'teaching practice and vision 2,500 years ago, who discovered that people could not rationally explain their assured claims to knowledge through a method of questioning. Confused interpretations, insufficient facts or self-contradictory convictions sometimes lurked under smooth, but essentially empty rhetoric. Socrates founded the idea that one can not rely on sound information and advice from those in "authority." He has shown that individuals can have control and a high place and yet be profoundly confused and irrational.

Socrates sets the agenda for the practice of critical thought, namely to challenge traditional beliefs and hypotheses in a reflective manner, carefully separating those beliefs which are rational and logical from those which — however appealing they may be to our native egocentrism, however comfortable or comfortable they may be — lack adequate proof