Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in their readiness to doubt.~ H. L. Mencken
These days one hears so much about "critical thinking". Educators claim that they intend to engender critical thinking in their charges. Colleges and universities assure us that students will graduate from their institutions as “critical thinkers”. Even General David Petraeus has recently indicated one of his goals is to encourage more “critical thinking” in his staff and the troopers in his command. One wonders does he really know what critical thinking is? Military thought processes are by definition the antithesis of critical thinking. The military, properly, strives for control and conformity of thought. All thinking is under control of an authority structure which can not be questioned. Though I wish him well, were the General's plan to succeed, who would follow orders?
So what is this critical thinking which appears to be outwardly desirable to so many? Why is the term so bandied about, but so little is written about what critical thinking actually is?
Socrates, who lived in Athens in the latter part of the 5th century BC (469BC -399 BC) is often credited as the primary founder of western philosophy, and an early advocate (perhaps the first) of critical thinking. Recall Plato's accounts of how Socrates challenged the premises and assumptions of his contemporaries during his philosophizing walks through the Athenian agora. His systematic use of probing questions, termed, “elenchus” in Greek, was his method of encouraging fundamental insight into the discussion, engendering helalthful doubt, and challenging his opponent's premises--as well as Athenian social and policy conventions in general. As is so often the case when one attempts to change deeply-held ideas, Socrates' challenges became too great a threat to the politicaly powerful elite of Athens. Very soon trumped up charges were drafted to bring the philosopher to trial, a sham trial which ended in the philosopher's death.
Socrates may have defined "critical thinking" as a clear analysis of the question coupled with rigorous analysis of the basic premises and assumption upon which conclusions are based. A more modern definition of critical thinking, sees the process as “ a careful, deliberate determination of whether one should accept, reject, or suspend judgment about a claim and the degree of confidence with which one accepts or rejects it.” (See Moore and Parker, Critical Thinking, McGraw Hill, 2007)
Another brief definition states: "Critical thinking is thinking that assesses itself" (Center for Critical Thinking, 1996).
But Mencken’s statement (above), that a civilized man is measured not by how willing he is to believe but "in his (or her) readiness to doubt”, is in my view, one of the most succinct statements relating to critical thinking, at least which I have found.
Expanding on Mencken, in my personal view, critical thinking requires one to doubt. And to be critical. That is to “criticize” both your thoughts and those of others, in light of the available evidence which supports it (or does not). It requires the ability to recognize the existence of unstated and untried assumptions and values and to expose those assumptions to the light of reason, and finally to test the resulting conclusions one arrives at. It always requires one to question authority, to search out and expose their faults, biases, assumptions and means of arriving at their stated conclusions, and finally to critically assess the potential end-result(s) of their claims.
“Critical” thinking means self-criticism too. One must be aware of human weaknesses such as our natural tendency toward egocentrism and sociocentrism which clearly limit and obfuscate logical thinking. One must be alert to one’s own and others inherent prejudice, bias, propaganda, self-deception, distoriention, lies, and misinformation all of which are much too common and widespread in public discourse.
In short, Doubt..doubt doubt...
Even to:
These days one hears so much about "critical thinking". Educators claim that they intend to engender critical thinking in their charges. Colleges and universities assure us that students will graduate from their institutions as “critical thinkers”. Even General David Petraeus has recently indicated one of his goals is to encourage more “critical thinking” in his staff and the troopers in his command. One wonders does he really know what critical thinking is? Military thought processes are by definition the antithesis of critical thinking. The military, properly, strives for control and conformity of thought. All thinking is under control of an authority structure which can not be questioned. Though I wish him well, were the General's plan to succeed, who would follow orders?
So what is this critical thinking which appears to be outwardly desirable to so many? Why is the term so bandied about, but so little is written about what critical thinking actually is?
Socrates, who lived in Athens in the latter part of the 5th century BC (469BC -399 BC) is often credited as the primary founder of western philosophy, and an early advocate (perhaps the first) of critical thinking. Recall Plato's accounts of how Socrates challenged the premises and assumptions of his contemporaries during his philosophizing walks through the Athenian agora. His systematic use of probing questions, termed, “elenchus” in Greek, was his method of encouraging fundamental insight into the discussion, engendering helalthful doubt, and challenging his opponent's premises--as well as Athenian social and policy conventions in general. As is so often the case when one attempts to change deeply-held ideas, Socrates' challenges became too great a threat to the politicaly powerful elite of Athens. Very soon trumped up charges were drafted to bring the philosopher to trial, a sham trial which ended in the philosopher's death.
Socrates may have defined "critical thinking" as a clear analysis of the question coupled with rigorous analysis of the basic premises and assumption upon which conclusions are based. A more modern definition of critical thinking, sees the process as “ a careful, deliberate determination of whether one should accept, reject, or suspend judgment about a claim and the degree of confidence with which one accepts or rejects it.” (See Moore and Parker, Critical Thinking, McGraw Hill, 2007)
Another brief definition states: "Critical thinking is thinking that assesses itself" (Center for Critical Thinking, 1996).
But Mencken’s statement (above), that a civilized man is measured not by how willing he is to believe but "in his (or her) readiness to doubt”, is in my view, one of the most succinct statements relating to critical thinking, at least which I have found.
Expanding on Mencken, in my personal view, critical thinking requires one to doubt. And to be critical. That is to “criticize” both your thoughts and those of others, in light of the available evidence which supports it (or does not). It requires the ability to recognize the existence of unstated and untried assumptions and values and to expose those assumptions to the light of reason, and finally to test the resulting conclusions one arrives at. It always requires one to question authority, to search out and expose their faults, biases, assumptions and means of arriving at their stated conclusions, and finally to critically assess the potential end-result(s) of their claims.
“Critical” thinking means self-criticism too. One must be aware of human weaknesses such as our natural tendency toward egocentrism and sociocentrism which clearly limit and obfuscate logical thinking. One must be alert to one’s own and others inherent prejudice, bias, propaganda, self-deception, distoriention, lies, and misinformation all of which are much too common and widespread in public discourse.
In short, Doubt..doubt doubt...
Even to:
"Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;..."
W. Shakespear, Hamlet
Of course being human, we can not always think critically. We all descend into the tirade, the emotional outburst, the illogical, besotted, ill conceived discourse…and rage, but be sure to be aware of these as exceptions. Be aware that we do not think critically by nature…but also remember that practice makes perfect.
Some interesting quotes concerning critical thinking and related thoughts:
But if thought is to become the possession of many, not the privilege of the few, we must have done with fear. It is fear that holds men back — fear lest their cherished beliefs should prove delusions, fear lest the institutions by which they live should prove harmful, fear lest they themselves should prove less worthy of respect than they have supposed themselves to be.~ Bertrand Russell (Principles of Social Reconstruction)
Any formal attack on ignorance is bound to fail because the masses are always ready to defend their most precious possession – their ignorance.~ Hendrik Van Loon
While others who would limit critical thought state:
Without censorship, things can get terribly confused in the public mind.
~ General William Westmoreland
Get the picture?
rjk
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;..."
W. Shakespear, Hamlet
Of course being human, we can not always think critically. We all descend into the tirade, the emotional outburst, the illogical, besotted, ill conceived discourse…and rage, but be sure to be aware of these as exceptions. Be aware that we do not think critically by nature…but also remember that practice makes perfect.
Some interesting quotes concerning critical thinking and related thoughts:
But if thought is to become the possession of many, not the privilege of the few, we must have done with fear. It is fear that holds men back — fear lest their cherished beliefs should prove delusions, fear lest the institutions by which they live should prove harmful, fear lest they themselves should prove less worthy of respect than they have supposed themselves to be.~ Bertrand Russell (Principles of Social Reconstruction)
Any formal attack on ignorance is bound to fail because the masses are always ready to defend their most precious possession – their ignorance.~ Hendrik Van Loon
While others who would limit critical thought state:
Without censorship, things can get terribly confused in the public mind.
~ General William Westmoreland
Get the picture?
rjk
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