Critical thinking entails systematically examining data and drawing reasonable conclusions. Elder and Paul define the disciplined process of actively and successfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information to obtain an answer or conclusion. Analyzing information, recognizing prejudice, and making well-considered conclusions require reasoning skills (Paul & Elder, 2019). According to Gerald Nosich, the components of reasoning are as follows: goal, problem, data, interpretation, concepts, assumptions, implications, and viewpoint (Nosich, 2021). Linda Elder and Richard Paul quote that critical thinking involves “discerning the quality of arguments, evaluating evidence, and recognizing the presence or absence of reasoning” (Paul & Elder, 2019). A person’s ability to defend their views and values, differentiate the truth from the lies, and make their own smart decisions, they write, depends on their ability to think critically.
Critical thinking is important not only in academic settings but also in personal and professional life. Gerald Nosich argues that one should enhance critical thinking skills for several reasons (Nosich, 2021). To begin, it assists individuals in solving difficulties and coming to conclusions more productively. Individuals can identify the relevance and reliability of the information, differentiate between facts and views, and understand the influence of personal, societal, and cultural biases when using the abilities associated with critical thinking (Nosich, 2021). The second benefit of critical thinking is that it enables individuals to examine the assumptions that lie behind the surface of an argument and to comprehend the assumptions themselves better. Because of this, individuals can avoid being led astray by misleading information or fraudulent claims.
The development of self-awareness and personal progress is impossible without acquiring critical thinking skills. Nosich quotes that by engaging in critical thinking, individuals can “examine their own beliefs, attitudes, and values and identify the extent to which these are based on reason and evidence (Nosich, 2021) “. This assists individuals in developing a perspective on the world that is more informed and well-rounded, which can lead to enhanced personal growth as well as improved decision-making.
In conclusion, the disciplined process of deliberately examining information to come to informed judgments is what we mean when we talk about critical thinking. Reasoning can be broken down into its parts, which are as follows: point of view, purpose, problem, information, interpretation, concepts, assumptions, and implications. Individuals need to develop their critical thinking skills since doing so enables them to solve problems, and make decisions based on accurate information.
References
Nosich, G. (2021). Critical writing: a guide to writing a paper using the concepts and processes of critical thinking. Rowman & Littlefield.
Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2019). The miniature guide to critical thinking concepts and tools. Rowman & Littlefield.