Critical Thinking is the ability to analyze the way you think and present evidence for your ideas, rather than simply accepting your personal reasoning as sufficient proof. You can gain numerous benefits from mastering critical thinking skills, such as better control of your own learning and empathy for other points of view.
Critical Thinking is, in short, self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking. It presupposes assent to rigorous standards of excellence and mindfully command of their use. It entails effective communication and problem-solving abilities and a commitment to overcome our native egocentrism and social centrism.
From solving problems in class assignments to facing real-world situations, Critical Thinking is a valuable skill for students to master. Critical Thinking skills teach a variety of skills that can be applied to any situation in life that calls for reflection, analysis and planning.
127 our experts are availableright now
Critical Thinking is a domain-general thinking skill. The ability to think clearly and rationally is important whatever we choose to do. If you work in education, research, finance, the management or the legal profession, then critical thinking is obviously important. But critical thinking skills are not restricted to a particular subject area. Being able to think well and solve problems systematically is an asset for any career. Critical thinking is very important in the new knowledge economy. The global knowledge economy is driven by information and technology. One has to be able to deal with changes quickly and effectively. The new economy places increasing demands on flexible intellectual skills, and the ability to analyses information and integrate diverse sources of knowledge in solving problems. Good critical thinking promotes such thinking skills, and is very important in the fast-changing workplace.
Critical Thinking enhances language and presentation skills. Thinking clearly and systematically can improve the way we express our ideas. In learning how to analyze the logical structure of texts, critical thinking also improves comprehension abilities. Critical Thinking promotes creativity. To come up with a creative solution to a problem involves not just having new ideas. It must also be the case that the new ideas being generated are useful and relevant to the task at hand. Critical thinking plays a crucial role in evaluating new ideas, selecting the best ones and modifying them if necessary.
Critical Thinking is crucial for self-reflection. In order to live a meaningful life and to structure our lives accordingly, we need to justify and reflect on our values and decisions. Critical thinking provides the tools for this process of self-evaluation. Good Critical Thinking is the foundation of science and liberal democratic society. Science requires the critical use of reason in experimentation and theory confirmation. The proper functioning of a liberal democracy requires citizens who can think critically about social issues to inform their judgments about proper governance and to overcome biases and prejudice.
Critical Thinking is something that is valued both in the university setting and in the professional situations you will find yourselves in after you graduate, and is part of lifelong learning. Critical Thinking is important in life. It helps you to think creatively – ‘outside the box’. It keeps you from becoming narrow. Critical Thinking is expected of you in higher education. It can lead to developing your judgement, evaluation and problem-solving abilities. Learning Critical Thinking skills can also enhance your academic performance. According to Linda Elder and Richard Paul, authors of “Critical Thinking Development: A Stage Theory,” students who know how to analyze and critique ideas are able to make connections across disciplines, see knowledge as useful and applicable to daily life and understand the content on a deeper, more lasting level.
Rather than relying on teachers and classroom time for instruction and guidance, students with critical thinking skills become more independent, self-directed learners. Researcher Jane Qinjuan Zhang writes that critical thinking enables students to assess their learning styles, strengths and weaknesses, and allows them to take ownership of their education. All Entrance exams examine a students’ ability to think critically. As a matter of fact, the analytical and verbal reasoning skills sections of the GRE exams are straight-out exams founded on testing Critical Thinking skills. So is the Written Analysis and Communication test in the second phase of IIMA entrance exams. The skills developed in Critical thinking directly help students do better even at the Mathematical reasoning tests.
Today one of the most important criteria for success in college is the ability to think independently while being logical at the same time. Often students are asked to present papers either on their subject matter or in liberal arts. Knowledge of Critical Thinking Skills enables students to not only outlines their papers coherently with a logical structure, it also helps them reason and present their thoughts in an organized and persuasive manner. A good critical thinker knows how to separate facts from opinions, how to examine an issue from all sides, how to make rational inferences and how to withhold personal judgment or biases. Rational critical thinkers are generally the voices of reason in times of mass hysteria or panic. As Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “We have nothing to fear but fear it.” The critical thinker usually has the comprehensive skills to consider all possible options and solve a problem.
The critical thinker remains calm and knows when he is right. Critical thinkers are less likely to fall for scams or tricks because they approach everything with a healthy amount of skepticism. Those who lack critical thinking skills often assume that everything they hear is true; regardless of the source. Critical thinkers consider all options before they act. If time is an important factor, they consider the fastest method of achieving a goal. They may even discover a shortcut. Critical thinkers embody the phrase “work smarter, not harder.” They are masters of efficiency.
A critical thinker has the self-awareness to know the difference between a rational thought based on careful consideration and an emotional response based on personal bias. Emotion is the enemy of reason. By understanding your own perspective, you can also consider the perspective of others and come to a conclusion based on fact, not feelings. Increasingly more and more employers are looking not for employees with highly specialized academic skills, but those with good thinking and communication skills. Employees who learn quickly and can solve problems, think creatively, gather and analyze information meaningfully.
Many of the highest-paying jobs require critical thinking skills, such as generating effective ideas and making important decisions. Job interviewers often ask applicants questions that test their ability to think critically. Critical thinking skills may also be a deciding factor when an employee seeks a promotion. It’s easy to let your emotions take over when making an important decision or arguing for your opinion, especially if you are personally invested in it. However, “Why Critical Thinking?”, a report from York University, asserts that critical thinking can help you effectively use emotional appeal, letting your feelings influence, but not control your reasoning.
Ultimately, Critical Thinking Skills help you to better understand the experiences and views of others, enhancing your ability to work with different people.
References:
- http://www.doane.edu/facstaff/resources/cetl-home/31812
- http://classroom.synonym.com/benefits-critical-thinking-skills-3895.html
- http://www.uws.edu.au/hall/hall/critical_thinking
- http://criticalthinkingacademy.net/index.php/benefits-of-critical-thinking
- http://www.ehow.com/about_5079553_benefits-critical-thinking-skills.html
- http://philosophy.hku.hk/think/critical/ct2.php
