In order to truly be critical thinkers, we must reach stage six: master thinker. Although it is stated that philosophers are unsure that we as humans are capable of becoming master thinkers, due to our deep social conditioning. I believe that while it may not be possible for the vast majority of humanity to become level six critical thinkers, I do believe it is possible for the fittest of our society to become true critical thinkers. I believe I am a level 3 critical thinker, meaning I am just beginning my critical thinking experience. Before this class I never took much time to evaluate my thinking strategies or think extensively about matters I did not see as trivial. A level three thinker is described as one who beginnings to take thinking …show more content…
College has a extensive impact on a person that some people simply don’t realize. When I first started college, I was a little close-minded and unsure about what it was I wanted to do with the rest of my life. When I was halfway through my freshman year, I decided to completely change my path in life. I left ECU, moved into an apartment, transferred to Pitt and declared my major intended sonography. Then suddenly I hated what I was doing, I had to take a step back and truly evaluate my life and what it was I was meant to do. I was completely lost. Then one day I received a text from a friend telling me to apply to a hospital located in Chesapeake, Virginia. I did, and I got the job. When I told my parents they were less than thrilled, they didn’t like the idea of me taking a year off from school to work, but I thought long and hard about what was best for me and decided it was something I was meant to do, it was the path I needed to follow. I worked for a year while living at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. I was completely independent, providing for myself 100 percent. While working this job, I realized that what I wanted to do and what I was called to do in life was become a nurse, which is something I would have never figured out had I not seriously weighed my options …show more content…
it is so mentally exhausting it’s hard to find room to think about anything else. It is possible to overcome these mental barriers and open our minds to new ideas, opinioins, beliefs, and factual evidence. This is still something I am learning to do, and I hope one day I can think more in depth and become the critical thinker I know I can
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Show MoreMy personal definition of critical thinking is your ability to think using sensible, adequate, and level-headed thinking about things you believe in, the things that you do, and how you ultimately decide what needs to be addressed. This includes your ability to interconnect in independent, reflective, and authentic thinking that helps you recall information and details so that you can better understand them. Critical thinking also entails your ability to make the right choices while boosting your ability to solve problems and arguments while evaluating the evidence. This also includes your thought process in being rational, open-minded, and understanding the connections between thoughts and ideas. Critical
To describe Critical Thinking (CT) as a “Higher-order skill” is to put it mildly. After spending twelve hours reading this week’s assigned articles and a great deal more on the subject of CT, I still feel like a first-grader being asked to solve a calculus equation. To paraphrase Tim van Gelder, learning CT skills is hard and a life-time journey. It is not enough to know the concepts, the student must actively practice CT themselves to improve their understanding (2004). I first became a critical thinker in third grade, after moving to London. As an American child, I had been taught that important history began in 1776, a history measured in hundreds of years. In England I saw a history measured in thousands of years and was taught the opposing
There are many definitions of critical thinking. Many people see it as a specific way of handling information. And others see it as a specific set of skills and abilities. People interested in political and social change see it as challenging and providing alternatives to the generally accepted beliefs and values of the power structure.
When trying to define critical thinking you might run into some challenges along the way. Critical thinking is a widely used yet vague term that is practiced by different people in a variety of locations throughout the world. Critical thinking is a strong virtue for the majority and the worst enemy for others. Needless to say without critical thinking we would be nowhere close to where we are today pertaining to our technological and social endeavors.
The first ancestor of humans whom said to himself, "Every one has always made bone tools but they break awful easily. I bet we could make tools out of something else, what if I tried this rock?" was using critical thinking. So too were most of the social, artistic and technological groundbreakers that followed. You’d be hard pressed to finds an advance in almost any area of humanities development that didn't start with someone looking at the way things were and saying "It doesn't have to be that way. What if we looked at it from another angle?" There exercize of critical thinking and it’s developments across time is directly responsible for the world we live in today. We may never be able to accurately judge the full scope of it’s affects which are literally
I am a critical thinker because every time I encounter or observe a problem that required me to intervene or provide solution, I usually analyze what the problem is, evaluate the fact or data I gather during my analysis, think about possible interventions and evaluate all the possible outcomes of whatever interventions I choose, then I provide rationale for each intervention and decide on the best and most appropriate solution to the problem. This is what critical thinking is all about; to be able analyze what is observed or encountered and make informed and well thought out decision about the issue at hand.
Critical thinking is that mode of thinking about any subject, content, or problem — in which the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking by skillfully analyzing, assessing, and reconstructing it. Critical thinking is self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking. (Foundation for Critical Thinking, 2013)
Critical thinking is the careful scrutiny of what is stated as true or what appears to be true and the resulting expression of an opinion or conclusion based on that scrutiny, and (2) the creative formulation of an opinion or conclusion when presented with a question, problem or issue, (Kist-Ashman, 2011, p. 33).
It is a logical route to take when criticizing, problem solving, evaluating and interpreting in any setting. One would use their critical thinking skills to walk them through a scientific hypothesis or to thoroughly think through the necessary way to approach the problem that was presented to them. To be able to critical think, one must be informed, open and fair minded, honest, and determined to find a solution to their problem (2011). Critical thinking is such a big part to criminal investigation. Being able to find a “needle in a haystack”, one person out of billions, that committed a crime is amazing and involves very intelligent critical thinkers.
Critical thinkers have the ability to think on a higher level. A process for thinking critically is required that will bring about decisions and ideas that will provide for a better life for ourselves and those around us. Most of us take thinking for granted. However, we develop as critical thinkers when we open ourselves to recognizing the strengths and weakness’ of our own thinking. Higher order thinking comes into play when choosing a presidential candidate, or sitting on a jury for a murder trial, or deciding if we need nuclear power plants, or when determining the effects of global warming. As a critical thinker, one becomes a more responsible, contributing member of society. (Schafersman, S.D., 1991). To put us on the road to being critical thinkers, we need to acquire the attributes of a critical thinker and to learn to be fair minded and recognize our own ignorance.
Critical thinking is a very hard thing to do it doesn’t come easy to everyone, in this class there are six different stages in critical thinking: The Unreflective Thinker, The Challenged Thinker, The Beginning Thinker, The Practicing Thinker, The Advanced Thinker and The Master Thinker. The one I possess is the challenged thinker which mean “Thinkers move to the “challenged” stage when they become initially aware of the determining role that thinking is playing in their lives, and of the fact that problems in their thinking are causing them serious and significant problems”, (Elder & Richard, 1996) this criteria of thinking fit me because my thinking has caused me serious problems in my life such as making bad decision that affects me in the long run. There are benefit and downfalls to this thinking criteria my benefit is I think a lot about my decision I make and how it will affect my wellbeing such as my kids and household all at once. Now my downfall is not thinking with a clear head and sometimes it causes me to make an even bigger mess of my life such as my relationships in my life.
Critical thinking is said to have been around for as long as 2500 years, first introduced by Socrates who found that people could not rationally explain how and why they knew what they claimed to know. It was in this way that he determined how important it is to question ourselves about where our thoughts and knowledge come from before we accept them as the truth. He also emphasized seeking evidence, closely examining reasoning and assumptions, analyzing basic concepts, and tracing out implications not only of what is said but also of what is done. The method Socrates used to question things is now probably one of the best known critical thinking strategies, known today as “Socratic Questioning” (Bartell, Elder, & Paul, 1997). Robert Sternberg
What is not easily recognized is the fact that the very fabric of life is dependent on the ability to think properly and make good decisions. Improper thinking is costly in the quality of life and monetarily. The result of a critical thinker that has worked to cultivate proper thinking skills includes: the ability to ask vital questions and to identify problems with clarity. A critical thinker also collects relevant information while effectively interpreting it, thinks with an open mind, uses alternative systems of thought, and understands how to communicate while working to formulate a strong solution. In summary, critical thinking is self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking. Above all else, the standards of excellence are rigorous, and it entails the prospect of overcoming the challenge of sociocentrism and
None of us think critically all the time. Well-cultivated thinkers communicate effectively among others in solving complex problems and other matters in question. In short, creative and critical thinking is all about ones’ self (self corrective, self discipline, self directed).
According to The Foundation for Critical Thinking (2007), "Critical thinking is, in short, self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking. It presupposes assent to rigorous standards of excellence and mindful command of their use. It entails effective communication and problem solving abilities and a commitment to overcome our native egocentrism (Foundation for Critical Thinking, 2007).