Critical

Thinking
Trends, Network, and Critical
Thinking in the 21st Century
“Children must be taught how
to think, not what to think.”
—Margaret Mead
Our ability to learn, to understand, and to
decide based on acquired knowledge
has helped mankind survive for hundreds
of thousands of years. However, we have
long reached the point in the history of
our species where we can move beyond
survival.
For this purpose, basic reasoning is
not enough. In order for us to find
the higher truth of things, we need
to think differently. We need to ask
questions that may not have
pleasant answers. We even have to
question the obvious.
What is critical thinking?
As defined by the National Council for
Excellence in Critical Thinking is “the
intellectually disciplined process of
actively and skillfully conceptualizing,
applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or
evaluating information gathered from, or
generated by, observation, experience,
reflection, reasoning, or communication,
as a guide to belief and action.”
 WHAT CRITICAL
THINKING IS NOT
In an article, Reginald Finley provided a list of what critical
thinking is not. These are things that can be seen as signs of
high intelligence and can be beneficial at times but still do
not equate with critical thinking.
 THINKING A LOT
A person can think about a topic for
hours or even days, but if he is not being
rational or if he has biases (which we will
discuss in the next chapter), there is still
a good chance that he will come up
with incorrect conclusions. Critical
thinking is about HOW you think, not
HOW MUCH you think.
 BEING OPEN-MINDED
It is an essential element of critical
thinking but it is not the only element.
Having a welcoming attitude towards new
facts and ideas can lead to knowledge
but accepting ideas without questioning
and analysis leads to false knowledge.
 BEING SMART
You may have high IQ, you may even think
critically about most topics but there’s still a very
good chance that there is a topic in which you
do not think critically. Critical thinking is a
constant process. It is not like a medal that gets
pinned on you once and can be claimed as
yours for the rest of your life
 UNIVERSAL SKEPTICISM
Expressing doubt about ideas and beliefs,
especially those that are believed by a lot
of people may look and sound like critical
thinking but it without informed, rational
thought; it really does nothing more than
to give a false impression of edgy
intellectual rebellion.
CRITICAL THINKING
TOOLS
Here are some concepts and tips to help you get
started. Think of them as tools for critical thinking:
 “I keep six honest serving-men
They taught me all I knew;
Their names are What and Why and
When and How and Where and
Who.”
—Rudyard Kipling
5W1H
In order to think critically, first you have to
ask questions. Asking the right questions will
help you get proper answers whether you
ask them to yourself or other people. As
simple as it sounds, questioning can be
daunting task. If done incorrectly, it may
lead to false assumptions and misled
conclusions.
 If you’re having doubts about your questioning skills or if you
simply don’t know how to begin asking questions, the 5 W’s and
1H is always a good place to start.

WHAT WHERE
What happened? Where did it happen?
What is it? Where does it lead?

WHO WHEN
Who did it? Whom When did it happen?
did it happen to? When will is end?
 If you’re having doubts about your questioning skills or if you
simply don’t know how to begin asking questions, the 5 W’s and
1H is always a good place to start.

WHY HOW
Why did it How did it
happened? Why happened? How
was it done was it done?
THE
SOCRATIC
METHOD
As the name implies, the Socratic
Method is a method that is
named after the Greek
philosopher Socrates. It can be
defined as a method that aims to
discover a universal truth or at
least get as close to the truth as
possible.
 THE SOCRATIC METHOD
A method of eliminating hypothesis and as
such, it works by exploring all possible
definitions or explanations and then trying to
question them until all parties are satisfied
with the final answer. The end goal is to
come up with a universal explanation or a
definition that is irrefutable.
 BASIC FLOW OF SOCRATIC
METHOD
1 Ask a question

2 Question the hypothesis

3 Come up with a new

hypothesis
SCIENTIFIC
METHOD
 The Scientific Method is a set of techniques
used to conduct a systematic and credible
investigation. The scientific fields and critical
methods use the same principles in the sense
that they are both rooted in rational thought
and factual knowledge. Therefore, the
scientific method can be an effective tool in
critical thinking. The phases of the scientific
method are as follows:
 1. OBSERVATION

It all starts with an observation of an event.

During this phase, important details should
be remembered or better yet, recorded.
 2. QUESTION
Most of the time, merely observing an
event can raise questions. These questions
will trigger your curiosity and make you
want to find an answer. For the purpose of
the scientific method, you must create a
question based on your observation. The
answer to this question will be the
conclusion of the scientific method.
 3. HYPOTHESIS
The purpose of a hypothesis is not to give
a final answer to your question but to
serve as a guide for the next steps.
Remember to make a hypothesis based
on evidence. Do not let your personal
beliefs or preferences influence you
 4. EXPERIMENTATION
During this phase, you must conduct
experiments in order to prove or disprove
your hypothesis. An experiment is
considered valid if its results can be
reproduced by you or by others.
 5. ANALYSIS
Once you have gathered enough information
through experimentation, you can then
proceed to studying or analyzing this
information in order to come up with a
conclusion. Your investigation is considered a
success if you were able to come up with
evidence that proves or disproves your
hypothesis.
 5. ANALYSIS
Once you have gathered enough information
through experimentation, you can then
proceed to studying or analyzing this
information in order to come up with a
conclusion. Your investigation is considered a
success if you were able to come up with
evidence that proves or disproves your
hypothesis.
 IMPORTANCE OF
CRITICAL THINKING
IMPORTANCE OF CRITICAL THINKING
INTELLECTUAL
SELF AWARENESS
INDEPENDENCE
Having critical thinking Critical thinking requires us
skills makes you more to look within ourselves.
capable to think for Our own beliefs, emotions,
yourself. Critical thinking and values need to be
allows you to analyze kept in check in order to
facts and events that you make sure that they do
encounter and decide not get in the way of
the best course of action rational thought and
without relying on other sound judgement.
people such as the media
and authority figures.
 IMPORTANCE OF CRITICAL THINKING
HUMILITY
In order to think critically, we
sometimes have to challenge our
own beliefs. In some cases, we will
find long-held beliefs to be
incorrect. In order to change false
beliefs, first, we have to admit that
they exist, even if it’s just to
ourselves. Critical thinking teaches
us that we are not always right; we
can be wrong and we have to be
ready to admit our mistakes.
IMPROVED WORLD
VIEW
In order to think critically,
we have to strive to see
the world without bias and
to give consideration to
other beliefs and points of
view, even those that are
opposed to ours.
IMPORTANCE OF CRITICAL THINKING

PROBLEM SOLVING
Critical thinking skills are good tools in solving real world
problems. Most of the time, the problems that we
encounter in everyday life will be easier to solve if we look
at them rationally, without letting our emotions take control
of the situation.
END