INTRODUCTION TO

CRITICAL THINKING, 1
LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• define critical thinking
• identify skills that assist in developing critical
thinking
• explain the benefits of critical thinking skills
 ACTIVITY
WHAT IS CRITICAL THINKING?

• In pairs or groups, discuss what you think the

term ‘critical thinking’ means.
• Write down your ideas and present them to the
class.
• Remember there are no right or wrong answers
at this point.
 WHAT IS THINKING?

Act of using one’s mind to produce thoughts and ideas

 WHAT ABOUT CRITICAL?

• Critical – To do with judgement

• Judging severely or finding fault?

• Critical” here does not mean “negative”

• Critical means involving or exercising
skilled judgment or observation
DEFINING CRITCAL THINKING, 1

The word ‘critical’ comes from the Greek

word kritikos which means discernment

i.e. the ability to evaluate, assess and judge

DEFINING CRITICAL THINKING, 2

• The root for the existence of this skill dates back

to the age of Socrates 2,500 years ago.

• Socrates emphasised on the importance of

looking for evidence when assessing fundamental
ideas and views.
DEFINING CRITICAL THINKING, 3

• Another important personality that endorsed the

critical thinking tradition was Rene Descartes (1596–
1650)
• Descartes created the ‘method of doubt’ theory
• ‘method of doubt theory’ = One should not
immediately accept anything as true, in order to avoid
jumping to conclusions and preconceptions
DEFINING CRITICAL THINKING, 4

John Dewey – American educationists, philosopher and

psychologist
• Initiated the concept of ‘reflective thinking’
• Reflective thinking is a process that involves:
• receiving information from various sources
• processing information by raising questions, analysing and doing
further research
• The entire process requires persistence and caution
• Importance is placed on reasoning, evaluating and creating possibilities
DEFINING CRITICAL THINKING, 5

According to Bassham et al. (2022) …

• Formulate and present convincing reasons in support of
conclusions.
• Make reasonable, intelligent decisions about what to
believe and what to do.
WHAT IS CRITICAL THINKING?
WHAT IS CRITICAL THINKING?

Critical Thinking
• is a mental process
• (where you) analyse and evaluate information
• using intellectual standards
• (to) form judgements and make decisions
 SKILLS INVOLVED IN
THE CRITICAL THINKING PROCESS

• Identifying other people’s positions, arguments and conclusions;

• Evaluating the evidence for alternative points of view;
• Weighing up opposing arguments and evidence fairly;
• Being able to read between the lines, seeing behind surfaces, and
identifying false or unfair assumptions;
• Recognising techniques used to make certain positions more
appealing than others, such as false logic and persuasive devices;
 SKILLS INVOLVED IN
THE CRITICAL THINKING PROCESS, 2
• Reflecting on issues in a structured way, bringing logic and insight to bear;
• Drawing conclusions, about whether arguments are valid and justifiable
based on good evidence and sensible assumptions;
• Synthesising information: drawing together your judgements of the evidence;
synthesising this form your own position.
• Presenting a form of view in a structured, clear, well-reasoned way that
convinces others.
BENEFITS OF CRITICAL THINKING: IN THE CLASSROOM

• In college, the focus is less on memorisation and more on active,

intelligent evaluation of ideas and information.

• Students learn to:

• Understand the arguments and beliefs of others.
• Critically evaluate arguments and beliefs.
• Develop and defend one’s own well-supported arguments and beliefs.
• Spot the most relevant and useful details among a mass of information.
BENEFITS OF CRITICAL THINKING: IN THE WORKPLACE

• Critical thinking will allow people to better perform in their jobs.

• Since most career skills can be learned on the job, employers are more concerned with
hiring team-oriented workers who can:
• Solve problems.
• Think creatively.
• Gather and analyze information.
• Draw appropriate conclusions from data.
• Communicate their ideas clearly and effectively.
• Formulate authoritative arguments, becoming a powerful and confident
persuader.
BENEFITS OF CRITICAL THINKING? IN LIFE 1

Solve problems
Find creative, workable solutions to
personal issues where others see only
problems.

Spot flaws in arguments that others accept

without questions
BENEFITS OF CRITICAL THINKING?, IN LIFE 2

Articulate opinions, problems, and solutions clearly

and effectively.

Make quicker, more informed personal

decisions, relying on evidence rather than “gut feel”.
Avoid making foolish decisions.
BENEFITS OF CRITICAL THINKING?, IN LIFE 3

Put yourself in other people’s shoes, and

learn from different perspectives.

Take a stand for yourself and avoid being

swayed by the uninformed views of other people.
SUMMARY

Critical thinking
• the process of acquiring information, evaluation,
interpretation and communication
• the ability to think clearly and rationally,
understanding the logical connection between ideas.
• practical skills that can be applied in everyday life