• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

Critical Thinking

Peter Morris

Muse
P
Joined
May 12, 2003
Messages
938
Okay folks, hard question for you. What does the phrase critical thinking mean to you?

I don't want you to google for a definition. What I'm interested in is finding out what you folks think it means. When you have read the phrase in the past what meaning have you given to the words? If you have used it yourself, what did you mean by it? How many people on this forum have ever given consideration to the actual meaning of the words?


When you see Randi using the phrase, what meaning do you think he intends to convey?

Do you think Randi is a good critical thinker? If so, please give a specific example of him applying critical thinking. And specify in what way the term critical thinking fits what he has done.
 
First of all, I'd like to say that these are sensible questions, and that if you'll keep on like this I'm happy to suspend our old feud.

To answer: critical thinking asks: "what's wrong with this idea?" and should follow any act of creative thinking, where you think of a new idea.

As for Randi, if you look at the recent posts on the Commentary Issues forum, he is not very critical about his own ideas concerning prayer and the inverse square law, it seems. I agree with KRAMER that he seems very solid on debunking frauds, which is the area of critical thinking he specialises in.
 
It’s a method used to evaluate claims.

Basis principles (in no particular order):

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence

Basic knowledge of statistics to determine what could have occurred by chance

Understand biases:
- confirmation bias
- forer effect
Recognize them in other people’s arguments / try to avoid them yourself. Understand where double-blinding is required to control for bias

Basic understanding of the scientific method:
- falsification / testable
- replication / peer review
Recognize the difference between science and psuedoscience

Apply Occam’s Razor

Understand logical fallacies - recognize them in other people’s arguments / try to avoid using them yourself.
 
Critical thinking, to me, is about being aware how easy it is as a human being to fool oneself into false beliefs, and as a consequence of this awareness to always be on the guard for these tendencies. It's about questioning your own beliefs, while using logic and skepticism in the process of forming new ones.

I do not know enough about Randi to conclude whether he's a good critical thinker or not.
 
I think critical thinking also involves an element of thinking about new information in regards to already known information.

If it conflicts greatly with prior information perhaps it warrants closer examination.
 
I teach "Critical Thinking in Psychology" and agree with the previous posters in describing the range of activities that comprise the area. Active investigation of a claim of the paranormal is one possible class project.
By the way, does anyone have any suggestions for a textbook? The ones I've used in the past (Gilovich, Sagan, Shermer) are a bit dated.
 
I'd say that Critical thinking is a way of describing the application of skepticism at an appropriate opportunity.
 
apoger said:
I'd say that Critical thinking is a way of describing the application of skepticism at an appropriate opportunity.
Click to expand...
Which begs the question, what is skepticism? ;)

IMO skepticism is the application of critical thinking.
 
Ashles said:
I think critical thinking also involves an element of thinking about new information in regards to already known information.

If it conflicts greatly with prior information perhaps it warrants closer examination.
Click to expand...
Agreed. This is "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence". A claim is extraordinary if it contradicts already known information. It required extraordinary evidence because the already known information is already backed by extraordinary evidence.
 
Critical thinking means ‘take nobody’s word for it’ ........ yes ..... not even CSICOPs ;)

If possible investigate it for yourself :)

:xnewyear
 
Socrates' criticism of the trial's allegations in Plato's "Apology" is what I always think of when it comes to an example. Here Socrates is on trial for what amounts to atheism, and at the same time, he is also accused of leading youths astray by teaching them demon worship. Socrates looks into the matter, asks about each one, and finds that the claims conflict with each other. How can he deny the existance of divine things, and at the same time worship divine things?


Well, my remembered translation is pretty crappy, and you can still see how Plato uses Socrates to show critical thinkng in action. Critical thought is not simply finding contradictions, it's the process of careful observation and intellectual discovery in finding them.

Plato isn't the only one with the decency to lead us through it, Randi does it too, though not quite as well. Randi is very good making observations others would easily miss, probably because his experience as a magician gives him some idea of what to look for. When Randi sees something, he shows his work. Most of this is evident in his books where he has time to explain everything and complete his projects, I suggest you go to your local library and check out one or two of his books. But if you want an example from the commentaries, this week's example of Sylvia Browne's methods will do. He finds remarkable similarities and leads us through them, and we find Sylvia making the exact same psychic observations of two different people, and getting different responses, when asked if one of them is really worth $750. He shows you his careful observations, he shows you his process of discovery, and that's what critical thinking is about.
 
plindboe said:
Critical thinking, to me, is about being aware how easy it is as a human being to fool oneself into false beliefs, and as a consequence of this awareness to always be on the guard for these tendencies. It's about questioning your own beliefs, while using logic and skepticism in the process of forming new ones.

I do not know enough about Randi to conclude whether he's a good critical thinker or not.
Click to expand...

Agree with above.
And to add ...
To think in such a way, so as to critique your own thinking process.
 
Personally, my definition of Critical thinking is influnenced by
the "General Paper"(English language paper) under GCE 'A' level exam.

My impression about GP is that it is said to require a good amount of Critical thinking to do well.
We had to write essays to presents argument in various opposing perspectives, before finding a conclusion.
 
Peter Morris said:
What does the phrase critical thinking mean to you?
Click to expand...
Blind trust in unknowable deities. And carrying a big gun, too.

(You asked what I think it is, and you got it.)
 
Additional question:

Please consider this quote.

Skeptic Report hopes to help dispel the darkness by providing a forum for skeptical and critical thinking.
Click to expand...

What do you see as the relationship between skeptical and critical thinking? Are they the same thing? Different? How similar are they?

If you promote one, do you have to promote the other? Can you do one without the other? Should one even try?
 
Peter Morris said:
What do you see as the relationship between skeptical and critical thinking? Are they the same thing? Different? How similar are they?

If you promote one, do you have to promote the other? Can you do one without the other? Should one even try?
Click to expand...
IMO, they’re the same thing.

Most people apply critical thinking some of the time. But a skeptic applies critical thinking when evaluating any claim – nothing gets a free pass. (Not trivial claims obviously.)
 
Jeff Corey wrote:

By the way, does anyone have any suggestions for a textbook? The ones I've used in the past (Gilovich, Sagan, Shermer) are a bit dated.
Click to expand...

Try this http://skepdic.com/ctinfo.html.

Bob Carroll teaches philosophy at Sac City College in Sacramento, CA. I'm sure you could e-mail him.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom