Critial Thinking

Critical Thinking Application

Critical thinking is the process of analyzing, applying, and evaluating information gathered from observation, reflection, experience, or communication. Critical thinking involves three different phases: analyzing thinking, evaluate thinking, and improve thinking. To be able to critically think, one must be able to examine his or her own thinking and put it to the test. One must be able to take his or her thinking apart and identify any weaknesses and to able to reconstruct his or her thinking in order to make it better (Paul & Elder, 2006).

Critical Thinking as a Concept

To better understand critical thinking it is best to break down the word. The first part of the word critical means discerning judgment in the Greek language. This word would imply that the development of discerning judgment based on standards. Standards would be what the person would consider right and wrong and what he or she is willing to do. Critical thinking has three dimensions: analytical, evaluative, and creative. As a critical thinker, one would analyze in order to evaluate it and evaluate it in order to improve it. In order to improve one’s critical thinking skills, he or she must begin to practice skilled thinking and lifelong learning (Paul & Elder, 2006).

To become a critical thinker, one must be a critic of his or her own thinking. One would do this to improve oneself. A person must discover his or her thinking, see its structure, observe its implications, and recognize it basis and vantage points. Through daily practice one can make changes to his or her critical thinking skills and to better develop them.

Life without New Thoughts

What would happen if a person could not have any more new thoughts for years to come? Could that person still hold his or her job? Without thinking could we still talk to people or have anything at all to talk about? When we choose to read books or listen to speakers, we are growing our minds and thoughts...