The ability to think critically and incorporate decision making abilities into one’s judgment rely upon factors that are consistently joined in the human experience. The authors of the primary text in this course refer to critical thinking as several abilities. All these abilities have one common factor. That factor is the understanding of how decision making is effective. To understand critical thinking one must not only realize the attributes but also the benefits of possessing the qualities of a critical thinker. Also, one must be able to incorporate this understanding into their present working atmosphere.
The authors of the e-text, state that critical thinking is comprised of three things. First, a critical thinker must have an awareness of a set of interrelated critical questions. Second, the ability to ask and answer critical questions at appropriate times is crucial. Finally, the thinker must desire to actively use the critical questions. (p.4).I would like to add to this definition. The key to all these habits is questions. One must question the obvious and accepted, in order to derive a higher form of understanding. Questions can happen for many reasons. We question to understand a situation, and the facts and opinions that surround it. We question to reapply the accepted and understood in hopes of finding a realization that will sharpen our perspective on a particular topic. We also question to form an argument upon which a foundation of dialog may exist and grow. By asking questions, “a spirit of curiosity, wonder, and intellectual adventure…” is created.(p.3). This becomes a true melting pot from which critical questions and the decisions made beyond those questions come from. (more…)
