Critical Thinking and I

Critical Thinking and I
Although in my mind, critical thinking is one of the advantages of the western culture, the saying that every student of USP shall take the module of critical thinking at the beginning of the course surprised me a lot. I wonder why it is so important to USP, what exactly the critical thinking is, and if it is worthwhile for me to spend time to learn critical thinking.
However, I thought it’s necessary for me to learn some critical thinking, because critical thinking is highly valued by both Chinese Universities and Singapore Universities. What’s more, to learning critical thinking would help I understand USP better. Thus, in the following weeks, I read a book about critical thinking.
According to the book by M.Neil Browne & Stuart Keeley, Asking the Right Questions, A Guide to Critical Thinking, Sixth Edition printed in 2001 by Prentice-Hall
Critical thinking refers to
1. Awareness of a set of interrelated critical questions.
2. Ability to ask and answer critical questions at appropriate times.
3. Desire to actively use the critical questions. Pg2
Basically, critical thinking deals with arguments. It is a “systematic evaluation of arguments based on explicit rational criteria”. (VII)
As far as I see, to do critical thinking, firstly the conclusion and reasons should be spotted. The book also provided a list of indicator words that precede the conclusion and the reasons in Pg. 21 and Pg.31 which is helpful.
Secondly, a good understanding of these reasons and conclusion should be formed. The value assumptions explained why the writer or speaker holds the conclusion and sometimes why they come up with these reasons. To require definition of abstract words is also of vital importance.
Thirdly, every reason should be assessed. Some reasons contain fallacies. Knowing the different kinds of fallacies helps me to spot them. Reasons need descriptive assumptions to support the conclusion. Some reasons contain causal states. Some reasons contain statistics or other kind of evidences. The descriptive assumptions, causal stated and evidences should be sported and evaluated. Also, the omitted information should be pay much attention.
Finally, form a personal conclusion independently.
The pioneers formed the series of strategies to help our critical thinkers. I think these strategies are of vital importance. However, these strategies are numerous. For example, when we assess the evidences, we’d better classify them first, since different kind of evidences should be dealt with different strategies. It requires discipline to manage all the strategies.
I think two strategies are most helpful and easy to pick up. The first one is to try different views. It helps me spot the weaknesses and the omitted information in arguments. The second one is be aware of the details. The more details I have, the better evaluation I can make.
So far, critical thinking has influenced me mainly in two aspects.
The first thing, I learned that I should provide friendly honest essays or talks. The conclusion and reasons should be easy to be found. The language should be plain. I should explain my value assumptions and assess my evidences carefully. I should perform a clarified structure in my essay or talk.
Secondly, Critical thinking has urged me to think more about what I read or heard. I should not only follow or reject the experts. The reasons are of vital importance. I should check the reasons one by one and form my own conclusion.
I believe that only if I keep training, critical thinking will benefit me a lot in many other ways.