Critical Thinking The careful and reflective process of evaluating claims and argument; attempting to form or evaluate judgements through the use of relevant and reliable considerations, and not be deflected by extraneous or untrustworthy considerations.   Thinking critically is an active and systematic cognitive strategy to examine, evaluate, and understand events, solve problems, and make decisions on the basis of effective reasoning and well-scrutinized evidence, involving such things as:  maintaining an attitude which is both openminded and sceptical; identifying and questioning underlying assumptions and preconceptions; eschewing oversimplifications, overgeneralizations, and overinterpretations; developing a tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity; exploring alternative perspectives and explanations;  Self-reflection is a willingness to consider the ways in which our expectations, beliefs, preconceptions, and biases can influence our evaluation of the thinking and reasoning of others, and equally these effects on our own thinking.   (see also: clarity of thinking, science, scientific approach, pseudo-science, systematic evidence, evolution, anecdotal evidence, (conceptual) models, operational definition, theory (scientific), falsifiability, testability)    » Return to belief, judgement, and clear thinking »     Labels: critical thinking

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