Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking

Will Byers

University of Phoenix

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking ties in closely with common sense. They are both a set of principles that can be applied to any situation in life. In addition to applying the principles to anything in life, they are very positive and beneficial when applied. When people go through life as a leaf in the wind, they are not living their lives to the fullest or to the best of their abilities.

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. In its exemplary form, it is based on universal intellectual values that transcend subject matter divisions: clarity, accuracy, precision, consistency, relevance, sound evidence, good reasons, depth, breadth, and fairness (¶ 1).

My form of critical thinking is based primarily on morals and values. According to Paul and Elder, I fall under the category of a fair-minded thinker (2006). I strive to benefit those around me and honest and sincere with people. I do not use my intelligence to manipulate a situation to my advantage. I never mislead people into thinking something that will never happen or is not true; I hold myself accountable. I have found the best thing to think about when making a decision is to imagine someone there at the time who would hold you accountable and question your reasoning. At work, when I make a decision I imagine explaining that decision to my superiors and my reasoning behind my decision. This has avoided many situations where I would otherwise be questioned for taking the easy route.

Critical thinking should be a measure of success, not money. I believe that the morals and values I have, and the grasp that I have on life makes me richer than the people living in luxury without a...