Critical Thinking

I always think of it as just 'thinking', but many here would do well to review their method of thinking. And if you wonder where I get my seemingly crazy conclusions to various topics, then you would do well to review (or indeed learn for the first time) the various methods of logical inquiry that present knowledge affords us.

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

Aside the points of interest above I want to make the following clear:
The *most dangerous* and unethical form of corruption is intellectual corruption, and its most common form is the following:

When individuals possess intellectual skills alone, without the intellectual traits of mind, weak sense critical thinking results. Fair-minded or strong sense critical thinking requires intellectual humility, empathy, integrity, perseverance, courage, autonomy, confidence in reason, and other intellectual traits. Thus, critical thinking without essential intellectual traits often results in clever, but manipulative and often unethical or subjective thought.

Consider that the various doctrines of communism, monarchism, nationalism, racism, mysticism, pseudo-science, and all the other sophistry floating around are the result of either thinkers who made honest mistakes or (more commonly) thinkers without integrity, and that these doctrines have been the number one cause of unnatural death in the world since the beginning of civilization.

Consider also that science and reason and freedom of information and exchange have brought about the highest standard of living in the history of the world, for the greatest population in the history of the world.

Reason, debate, argumentation and logic, are tools; Philosophy is a tool. It can be used to discover the truth, as in the latter case, and thereby produce all that is good in the world. And it can also be used to mask the truth, as in the former case, and thereby produce all that is bad in the world.

We speak here of ultimate good and ultimate evil, because this is the most full sense of each concept. The doctrine of communism killed 200 million people, the doctrine of scientific medicine has granted life to billions. If you are a thinker, and if you debate often, then resolve your ethics. Which type of thinker are you going to be: the sophist, or the critical thinker?

 

[Short City People]

What I think critical thinking is...

Critical thinking is self-guided, self-disciplined thinking which attempts to reason at the highest level of quality in a fair-minded way. People who think critically consistently attempt to live rationally, reasonably, empathically. They are keenly aware of the inherently flawed nature of human thinking when left unchecked. They strive to diminish the power of their egocentric and sociocentric tendencies. They use the intellectual tools that critical thinking offers – concepts and principles that enable them to analyze, assess, and improve thinking. They work diligently to develop the intellectual virtues of intellectual integrity, intellectual humility, intellectual civility, intellectual empathy, intellectual sense of justice and confidence in reason. They realize that no matter how skilled they are as thinkers, they can always improve their reasoning abilities and they will at times fall prey to mistakes in reasoning, human irrationality, prejudices, biases, distortions, uncritically accepted social rules and taboos, self-interest, and vested interest. They strive to improve the world in whatever ways they can and contribute to a more rational, civilized society. At the same time, they recognize the complexities often inherent in doing so. They avoid thinking simplistically about complicated issues and strive to appropriately consider the rights and needs of relevant others. They recognize the complexities in developing as thinkers, and commit themselves to life-long practice toward self-improvement. They embody the Socratic principle: The unexamined life is not worth living, because they realize that many unexamined lives together result in an uncritical, unjust, dangerous world.

 

What I think critical thinking is...

Critical thinking is self-guided, self-disciplined thinking which attempts to reason at the highest level of quality in a fair-minded way. People who think critically consistently attempt to live rationally, reasonably, empathically. They are keenly aware of the inherently flawed nature of human thinking when left unchecked. They strive to diminish the power of their egocentric and sociocentric tendencies. [...]

Yeah, nice copy-paste, douche.

http://www.criticalthinking.org/aboutCT/ourConceptCT.cfm

I think that's bannable, I forget...
Regardless, GTFO.

 

[wtp]

I think the most important part of critical thinking it not to be bias and to not let emotions interfere with rational thought. Very few people from my observation have the ability to make decisions without calculating how they'll be viewed for their decision. Judgments should be made based off evidence not based on how we feel.

 

I think the most important part of critical thinking it not to be bias and to not let emotions interfere with rational thought. Very few people from my observation have the ability to make decisions without calculating how they'll be viewed for their decision. Judgments should be made based off evidence not based on how we feel.

Take your own advise when you review the tax is theft argument.

 

[wtp]

Take your own advise when you review the tax is theft argument.

I didn't disagree with you, I don't even know your explanation. I asked because I was curious.

 

I didn't disagree with you, I don't even know your explanation. I asked because I was curious.

I wasn't saying that you didn't. I just wanted to bind the two topics together, because it is a place where people often do not apply critical thinking: The notion that "taxation is voluntary" is popular prejudice.

 

[b0b3rt]

Taxation would only be remotely voluntary if there was: a livable place on earth where one could live without any form of taxation, and everybody had the resources to get there.

 

[Maleficent]

Taxation would only be remotely voluntary if there was: a livable place on earth where one could live without any form of taxation, and everybody had the resources to get there.

There is no where on this earth you can live without being taxed I believe correct me if I'm wrong. So taxation is never voluntary.

I believe critical thinking is a way to re-evaluate your thoughts within your thoughts. To help gain a better understanding of the situation at hand helping you make a more rational and clearer thought.

I grew up in the USA education system and believe it or not I never heard them discuss what critical thinking actually was.

 

[pure skillzz]

There is no where on this earth you can live without being taxed I believe correct me if I'm wrong. So taxation is never voluntary.

I believe critical thinking is a way to re-evaluate your thoughts within your thoughts. To help gain a better understanding of the situation at hand helping you make a more rational and clearer thought.

I grew up in the USA education system and believe it or not I never heard them discuss what critical thinking actually was.

Somalia?

 

[Maleficent]

Somalia?

well shit okay then lol but i doubt it's a good place to be

edit: tyro said it