Why Critical Thinking?

The Problem:
Everyone thinks; it is our nature to do so. But much of our thinking, left to itself, is biased,
distorted, partial, uninformed, or down-right prejudiced. Yet the quality of our lives and that of
what we produce, make, or build depends precisely on the quality of our thought. Shoddy
thinking is costly, both in money and in quality of life. Excellence in thought, however, must be
systematically cultivated.

A Brief Definition:
Critical thinking is the art of analysing and evaluating thinking with a view to improving it.

The Result:
A well-cultivated critical thinker:

• raises vital questions and problems, formulating them clearly and precisely;
• gathers and assesses relevant information, using abstract ideas to interpret it
  effectively;
• comes to well-reasoned conclusions and solutions, testing them against relevant
  criteria and standards;
  thinks open-mindedly within alternative systems of thought, recognizing and
  assessing, as need be, their assumptions, implications, and practical consequences;
  and
• communicates effectively with others in figuring out solutions to complex problems.

Critical thinking is, in short, self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking. It requires rigorous standards of excellence and mindful command of their use. It entails
effective communication and problem-solving abilities, and a commitment to overcoming our native egocentrism and sociocentrism.