thinking Critical Thinking, this is no longer thinking A strange concept in the world. People talk about it everywhere, from universities to the workplace, from developed countries to poor religions. The importance of critical thinking has never been more properly recognized than it is now.
Critical thinking is believed to be a new thought of the modern era that can reflect a person's ability to analyze daily problems and make the right decision.
Since it's not a specific talent people are born with, critical thinking requires practice and effort. Ironically, while the concept's popularity is spreading around the world at an astonishing rate, many people don't know how to effectively develop critical thinking skills.
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What is critical thinking?
According to the Foundation for Critical Thinking, critical thinking is technically the intellectually well-organized process of conceptualizing, applying, studying, synthesizing, and finally evaluating information generated or gathered from observation, reflection, experience, communication, or reasoning, as a guide to action and belief.
There's another way to understand the term critical thinking more explicitly. Critical thinking is simply a systematic and deliberate process of processing information in an efficient manner so that you can generally understand things better, make better decisions, and be more confident in conversation. Essentially, critical thinking requires you to use a variety of intellectual tools to diversify information.
Critical thinking methods
Conceptualization Examination Synthesis Evaluation Second, the information collected can come from some types of sources, for example:
Observation Experience Reflective Thinking Communication Finally, the purpose of all of the above information is to support: The workings of beliefs Some people also have a unique way of explaining critical thinking. They define it as the opposite of regular thinking. Every moment of the day, our brains never stop thinking.
Instead of doing this automatically, you can deliberately use intellectual tools to arrive at better, more accurate conclusions. This will certainly benefit you more than your brain's subconscious thinking. It's also beneficial for your child's development.
How to develop critical thinking skills
If you try to search for this concept, you'll find a lot of results about how to develop critical thinking skills. These various options, which suggest different ways to practice your daily thinking, can also be confusing because it's not easy to choose from the many options. Therefore, in this section, we will recommend simple yet effective ways to develop critical thinking skills. These are very useful tips that can help you train your way of thinking and processing information.
Ways to practice critical thinking skills
1. Ask basic questions
Sounds pretty simple, right? In reality, this process is more complicated than you might expect. Many people get lost when they receive a complex explanation of their problem. This complicated answer tricks them into forgetting the original question.
So, let your thinking style return to the basic questions. What do you want to know? What do you already know? By asking the simple, basic question, you can see the problem from a comprehensive perspective. Some of the most fascinating solutions to problems are surprising not because of their complexity, but because of their elegant simplicity. Therefore, remember to always look for the simple solution first before attempting the complex one.
2. Question basic assumptions
Another thing you should know when learning how to develop critical thinking skills is the underlying assumption. We all make a lot of assumptions about everything. It's how our brains process certain information so we can function in everyday life.
These assumptions form the basis of our critical framework, and based on these assumptions we make decisions and judge everything around us. But what if all your beliefs turn out to be wrong? Or at least not entirely true? Your world seems to start to crumble, and you have to rebuild the entire foundation.
To avoid this, you must continually question your assumptions. What would have happened if Einstein had never questioned Newton's assumption about the laws of motion? Perhaps all humans lived with a false perception of universal motion, and science might have gone down the wrong path. You could say that Einstein's critical thinking saved the world.
3. Keep an open mind
An open mind is required for critical thinking. Clearly, the world is too vast for a narrow mind to comprehend. If you don't know how to develop critical thinking skills, you must first learn to maintain an open mind. What you know today may be wrong the next day.
Things that were unacceptable in the past may become commonplace in the future. If your mind is restricted, you will become disconnected from reality. Characteristics of a closed mind include a rigid set of attitudes and opinions, or a reluctance to discuss. Taking on someone like this is like taking on a brick wall.
If you want to process information properly, first and foremost, you have to get all the information. Only an open mind allows you to do this. However, openness doesn't require you to return to the truth as you've known it or accept every single point of view. In fact, sometimes critical thinking helps you stand by your beliefs and perspective. The truth will remain despite skepticism. Only illusion is pressured by a change of mind. See more: The Best Ways to Be Happy
4. Try reversing things.
Have you ever been asked, "Which came first: the chicken or the egg?" This question is a classic example of thinking backward. Therefore, we will discuss how to develop critical thinking skills using this approach. Scientists have proven that a brilliant way to find solutions to difficult problems is to try to reverse everything.
It seems obvious that chickens lay eggs, so they must have come first. But, on second thought, where did the chicken come from? Did it come from eggs? So, the eggs must have come first! Whenever you're thinking about a problem, remember this chicken and egg story. Something that seems like the cause can actually be the effect and vice versa. Looking at a different perspective can help you think more critically and find the solution more effectively. See more: How to Stop Being Selfish
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5. Understand your biases
There are many factors that can influence our perspective and decision-making. One of them is our own biases. Human judgment can be weak, subjective, and biased because of this.
You'll need to understand your mindset before learning how to develop critical thinking skills. Sometimes, people make decisions that go against what they know because of their preconceptions.
A recent study indicated that parents who received correct information about the benefits and safety of vaccines were less likely to vaccinate their children. This is because understanding does not always lead to correct action.
Understanding what your biases are as well as how these biases may affect the way you process information will provide you with tips on how to develop critical thinking skills.
To learn more details about critical thinking, you can watch the following video:
Article source: 9 Tips On How To Develop Critical Thinking Skills
Video source: What is critical thinking?