Critical Thinking for Dummies

Are we at a time and place when critical thinking has become an anomaly? Sure seems like it. It's not being taught or encouraged in public schools or liberal arts colleges. What IS being taught is the Leftist agenda of "social justice," global warming/climate change, "renewable/sustainable energy" (which is not sustainable because it cannot exist without government subsidies,) national health care, open borders, sanctuary cities and states, globalism, increased taxation, and a never ending burgeoning central government, ad infinitum, ad nauseam.

Combine that with the apparent death of common sense over the years and you have a seriously "dumbed-down" population.

Additionally, way too many people don't have the intellectual curiosity to learn the truth about current events, politics, news and information, and even religion. Is this societal scenario the zeitgeist liberal academicians and politicos have hoped for and planned for generations to gain control over an easily swayed and indoctrinated working class who eagerly vote for more "stuff" from an all powerful big federal government?

Leftists are still in the minority, but with the help of the vociferous "mainstream" media, they seem to be the vocal majority. The rest of the country goes to work, minds their business, and wants America to be a decent and prosperous place while paying little attention to the radical Left. Still, we're nearing a potential tipping point with numerous scenarios developing at the drop of a (MAGA) hat when mindless rent-a-mobs bent on hate and violence are called to action by community organizers for the sole purpose of creating chaos and disorder.

Maybe if there were more critical thinkers in our midst who happened to be activists, we wouldn't have so much disarray.

Critical thinking needn't be all that complicated but it does involve utilizing some common sense, which may need to be resurrected.

Remember back in the 60's when the antiestablishmentarians questioned authority and distrusted anyone over 30? Yeah . . . well those guys are the ones in academe, media, and big government and the last thing they want now is for anyone to question anything they do.

So what is critical thinking all about?

There's a good piece at the The Foundation for Critical Thinking which defines Critical Thinking and I recommend exploring that site. Here's their succinct synopsis on the topic:

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 life 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 Definition Critical thinking is that mode of thinking - about any subject, content, or problem - in which the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking by skillfully taking charge of the structures inherent in thinking and 
imposing intellectual standards upon them.

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 openmindedly 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 presupposes assent to rigorous standards of excellence and mindful command of their use. It entails effective communication and problem solving abilities and a commitment to overcome our native egocentrism and sociocentrism.  

(Taken from Richard Paul and Linda Elder, The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools, Foundation for Critical Thinking Press, 2008)

Rich Glasgow