Critical Thinking Statements

STATEMENT ONE: Critical Thinking has no application in day-to-day life.

CRITIQUE OF STATEMENT ONE: Critical thinking is used in daily life. Critical thinking involves purposeful and reflective thinking and is a natural part of life. The ability to solve problems in our daily lives involves critical thinking. Being flexible and open-minded are important ingredients of effective problem solving and critical thinking. For example, a job applicant thinking of ways to answer potential interview questions about his experiences in his life is engaged in critical thinking. To further illustrate, a business owner is thinking of ways to increase his business and at the same time reduce costs is engaged in critical thinking. Thus, critical thinking involves problem solving skills and is used to solve life's problems both in employment and personal situations.

STATEMENT TWO: "Critical Thinking" means making criticisms of other people's ideas.

CRITIQUEOF STATEMENT TWO: "Critical thinking" does not at all mean making criticisms of other people's thoughts or ideas. Rather, critical thinking implies doing a well job of evaluating evidence. Critical thinking involves the development of intellectual tools to avoid the pit falls of being taken in by false claims or being gullible or by "quack science." Again, critical thinking means evaluating evidence, not making criticism of other people's thoughts or ideas.

STATEMENT 3: Democracies get along just fine even if people do not think for themselves.

CRITIQUE OF STATEMENT 3: Democracies can face many problems. For example, the United States, as a representative democracy, has faced recent problems of unemployment and inflation. Critical thinking is required in making decisions deciding what to do or believe in solving these economic problems. Critical thinking allows for people to think for themselves in order to make reasoned and reflective judgments to solve problems. Critical thinking applies in our personal life, civic life, job, and education.

STATEMENT 4: Decisions about how I want to live my life do not affect other people.

CRITIQUE OF STATEMENT 4: Sometimes the decisions that I might make in my own life can indirectly influence other people. Therefore, it is very important to carefully evaluate my decisions because they may have a positive or negative impact on people that I love. While I should consider how my decision may affect other people, I need to consider what I think would be best for me.

STATEMENT 5: Reflective decision making requires little or no effort.

CRITIQUE OF STATEMENT 5: It is clear that reflective decision making requires great effort. Thus, critical

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