Some
reflections on Critical Thinking, what it is and when to use it
Much is made these days
of the term “critical thinking” and it is frequently used to suggest
gullibility or naïve acceptance on the part of those who appear to put little
thought into perspectives and perceptions.
So, what is “critical
thinking” and why should it be considered important?
Before studying the
operation of critical thinking, let us consider a few potential consequences of
not applying what is, after all, merely a system of verification or checks and
balances.
In the modern age when
communication is easy and pressure to make commercial, legal or social decisions
can be insidious and immediate, whether over the phone, via email or in a sales
environment, it is essential to be able to verify or assess identity, figures,
facts and reliability. Otherwise, you may enter into a contract with hidden
clauses, false figures or disreputable partners. You may accept financial or
business propositions over the phone from people falsely claiming to belong to
a reputable organisation. You may hire dubious tradesmen to work on your home
who fail to provide adequate documentation or guarantees. You may even be
persuaded to vote for a politician who bombards you with general promises and
statements of intent without furnishing details of just how his/her promises
will be achieved and what he/she is likely to obtain personally from securing
an elected position.
These (and many others)
are all situations that may be avoided through use of critical thinking, which
is merely the exercise of care and attention through application of reasonable doubt
and verification. It is in your own best interests, indeed I would go so far as
to say you owe it to yourself, to think critically.
At the heart of critical
thinking is respect for objective truth.
Respect for truth must surpass
opinion (which may consist of unsubstantiated thoughts or views), ambition (a prejudiced
desire for a particular outcome to be the case), advantage (an unwillingness to
accept a challenge to your belief if it weakens that belief) and pride (a
stubborn refusal to change your mind despite clear and persuasive evidence).
Statements should not be
accepted at face value. Corroboration or validation is required and may
reasonably be expected. The proposer of a statement or contract should be able
to provide clear evidence to support their claims.
Corroborated or validated
accounts and evidence may be gathered to support or deny an affirmation (using
facts, witness statements or accounts, images, sound recordings etc.). No
extraordinary deductions should be reached – conclusions should be supported by
facts, evidence and reason.
Recognition or
acknowledgement of facts is essential, even (and especially) if the facts and
evidence contradict previous statements or views. The overriding factor is a
desire to reach the truth, not provide support for a particular standpoint.
Denial of facts or
evidence, and conclusions drawn from them, is unreasonable and unacceptable as
it is tantamount to setting subjective interpretation or insistence on a chosen
viewpoint above objective evidence. Refusal to accept evidence and fairly-drawn
conclusions will render a counter-argument invalid.
That said, some
statements and evidence may be open to interpretation. Context and precision
should be applied to reading of language or interpretation of evidence, and
conclusions should be reached only if supported by reason and facts.
There may be insufficient
evidence to support a conclusion but reasonable inferences may be drawn
(clearly labelled as such), or there may be sufficient evidence to cast doubt
on another assertion without necessarily proving a case.
Recognition of ignorance
is essential – there should be no assertion of knowledge based on mere supposition
or belief.
Insistence on a view
despite counter-argument involving the presentation of facts and evidence
suggests dependence on personal conviction rather than a pursuit of objective
truth, and that view should be considered subjective or invalid.
Stuart Fernie (stuartfernie@yahoo.co.uk)
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