be a critical thinker

To become a critical thinker we must become an intimate observer of the manner in which we construct our own intimate world. To become a skilled decision-maker, one must become a skilled thinker, and to become either is learn to think about our liver both as a whole and as a complex of parts. We must understand how our socialized and the implications of that process. We must understand how our socialization is reinforced and reflected in the social institutions that continue to exert direct and indirect influence on us. We must know when we are acting out social routines and rituals that we were conditioned to accept. Paul& Elder emphasized that being a critical thinker; one must practice the above thinking and also need to think inside and outside the world, using the latter to critique the former.

What should we do to improve our critical thinking skills? It is a skill. Like the acquisition of many other skills, there are three main factors involved in learning critical thinking: theory, practice, and attitude.

First, we need to learn the principles of critical thinking, such as some basic logic. We also need to know what typical fallacies people in order to avoid them. We have summarized some of the main principles here. However, merely knowing the principles that distinguish good and bad reasoning is not enough. One might acquire an understanding of the theories of good tennis, and yes fail to apply and make use of such theories in actual game play. Similarly, to improve critical thinking skills it is necessary to develop the ability to internalize the principles one have learnt in normal reasoning, and to develop the disposition and ability and apply such principles in daily life and workplace. But persistent practice can be about improvements only if one has the right kind of motivation and attitude. To improve one’s thinking one must recognize that the importance of reflecting on the reasons for belief and action. One must also be willing to engage in debate, to admit having made mistakes, to break old habits, and to deal with complexities and abstract concepts....