What Is Critical Thinking? (sample)

Most of us assume that "thinking" is something we do naturally and never need to learn. But there is a wide gap between thinking and thinking well. Critical thinking is the skill that helps us weigh the reasons behind a claim, uncover its hidden assumptions and consider its consequences before we accept it.

It is neither cynicism nor a reflex to reject whatever we hear. A good critic can see the flaws in an argument and acknowledge its strengths; they calibrate their confidence to the evidence, no more and no less.

A short definition

Put simply, critical thinking is the careful, systematic evaluation of beliefs and arguments, aimed at deciding what to believe and what to do. The definition comes from Robert Ennis, one of the pioneers of the field, and it remains one of the most widely used.

Critical thinking is reasonable reflective thinking focused on deciding what to believe or do.

The building blocks

If we break the skill down into smaller parts, at least these belong on the list:

Telling claims from reasons: understanding what the speaker wants to establish and what they offer as support.
Finding hidden assumptions: the unstated premises an argument quietly rests on.
Weighing the evidence: asking where the information comes from and how reliable the source is.
Considering alternative explanations: could the same facts be explained a different way?
Knowing your own biases: accepting that the mind prefers to believe what it already likes.

In the video below I walk through each of these with everyday examples:

Why it matters

Every day we face a flood of information, advertising and claims. Without a tool for sifting through them we either accept everything or reject everything, and both roads lead to error. Critical thinking is that sifting tool. For a deeper look at the history of the idea, see the entry on critical thinking in the Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyExternal link.

The good news is that this skill can be learned. Like any other skill it grows with practice and fades with neglect. In the following posts we will look at each building block in turn.

A short definition

Critical thinking is reasonable reflective thinking focused on deciding what to believe or do.

The building blocks

If we break the skill down into smaller parts, at least these belong on the list:

Telling claims from reasons: understanding what the speaker wants to establish and what they offer as support.

Finding hidden assumptions: the unstated premises an argument quietly rests on.

Weighing the evidence: asking where the information comes from and how reliable the source is.

Considering alternative explanations: could the same facts be explained a different way?

Knowing your own biases: accepting that the mind prefers to believe what it already likes.

In the video below I walk through each of these with everyday examples:

Why it matters

The good news is that this skill can be learned. Like any other skill it grows with practice and fades with neglect. In the following posts we will look at each building block in turn.