What is Critical Thinking?

Abstract
         The question of deep thinking or what is critical thinking is in itself somewhat of an enigma. Creating a baseline definition can be difficult and illusive. Why? critical thinking after all is done in the mind, the mind of a person. We all have had several different experiences since birth, which may create problems in understanding how we deconstruct meanings and approaches to problem solving. Understanding our biases may be the key.

Treatment:
         The word Critical Thinking broken into it roots and defined, Critical (adjective) means: involving skillful judgment as to truth, merit, etc.; judicial: and the word. Thinking (adjective) means: judgment, reflection: clear thinking. If you study the key words: judgment, truth, and reflection, a pattern begins to emerge. Another word for explaining the process is  “profound contemplation”. The Wikipedia further defines contemplation as “In Christianity, contemplation refers to a content-free mind directed towards the awareness of God as a living reality. This corresponds, in some ways, to what in Eastern religion is called samadhi”. Since we cannot assume everyone is of the same faith, but we can agree that deep mental reflection needs a content-free mind. The term content-free mind may be “arrived upon” or “in the quest of “but in any event critical thinking requires a free mind, one that approaches being impartial or impartial. Christine Twiford states in her essay Critical Thinking: Call to Scholarship the three base activities that needs to be in process by anyone approaching critical thinking:

OBSERVATION - recognize and comprehend a theory or position
REFLECTION - effectively integrate or challenge a theory or position
INTERACTION - organize and express a theory or position

Based on what we have come to understand, one cannot think deeply without profound
observation, one cannot think deeply without profound reflection and one cannot think deeply without profound interaction.
With deep thinking, only come more questions. Janice Sequeira-Higgins reflects in her essay “The Answer is in the Question”. “Although varying definitions and characteristics have been generated, many of the views on critical thinking overlap. Throughout the viewpoints presented, three common threads of interest emerged: (a) the importance of being inquisitive, (b) the willingness to ask questions, and (c) the necessity of continual practice”. Questions help us see the world, with questions their must be the presence of another signal of critical thinking, curiosity.
Questions of deep thinking cannot be asked with understanding the biases one may have in the process critical thinking. A problem to solve includes some kind of bias; it may from either sides or the very reason for the problem. Without a clear measure of the bias, one cannot yield a clear meaning.
Another way understanding critical thinking is what would a society being like with out critical thinking being practice as culture norm and what is the cost for the absence of this norm. Janice Sequeira-Higgins reflects again in her essay “Academicians agree that becoming an efficient critical thinker, while necessary for improving the quality of life, is a lifelong process, which requires the embodiment of a rigorous set of standards”. The quality of life can improve with presences of critical thinking. Vincent Gardner evokes Michael Mandel from his article, “The Failed Promise of Innovation in the U.S. Mandel” notes” What if outside of a few high-profile areas, the past decade has seen far too few commercial innovations that can transform lives and move the economy forward? What if, rather than being an era of rapid innovation, this has been an era of innovation interrupted?” Innovation comes with much critical thinking.

Conclusion
Critical thinking can be best understood by observing it in practice, reflect on it being
practiced and interacting with others who practice thinking deeply. A society with out critical thinking may be in danger of losing their economic edge in if not brought into check. But the future of critical thinking may still be unfolding…WATSON, WATSON, WATSON.
 

IBM's Watson supercomputer wins in Jeopardy

Sources

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Thinking

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/critical

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contemplation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cognitive_biases


The New Arms Race:Critical Thinking
Vincent E. Gardner
Posted on 14 February 2011 08:06 PM

Critical Thinking: Call to Scholarship
Christine Twiford
Posted on 14 February 2011 07:21 AM

The Answer is in the Question
Janice Sequeira-Higgins
Posted on 16 February 2011 10:19 PM

The Failed Promise of Innovation in the U.S.
By Michael Mandel
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_24/b4135000953288.htm