PHILOSOPHY
ASSIGNMENT (SEC)
Critical thinking
And decision making
Gaurav yadav
2121162
B.A.pro(polity + philosophy)
What is critical
thinking?
Critical thinking is the ability to recognize,
and challenge assumptions.
Our world is filled with messages,
advertisements, ‘News,’ etc.
A critical thinker does not take these at face
value, but instead looks deeper into what may
be ‘presumed’ or built into these messages.
Shallow thinkers get the explicit, the surface
message, and accept it as it is presented.
Critical thinkers ask “Why did they say
it like that? Is that a real audience, or are they
paid to be there? Is that spokesperson a real
customer or a paid actor? Why does this
envelope look like it came from the
government, but it is not?”
Recognizing the assumptions that are
built into what is presented to you is a critical
first step to protect you from being manipulated.
Failure to recignize these and to acknowledge
them , if not challenge them, will only result in
your doing what others want you to do. So the
question is” Do I want to take responsibility for
my actions, or am I ok with being led down a
path to do what others manipulate me to do by
clever wording?”
That is what is at stake when we just
take things at face value when they are
presented to us. Critical thinking is the means
that we use to assure that our actions are
aligned with our best interests. I think of critical
thinking as our highest and best duty to
ourselves and our families.
DEFINING CRITICAL THINKING
Critical thinking is the process of objectively
analyzing and evaluating information,
arguments, or ideas in order to form reasoned
and informed judgments or decisions. It
involves careful, logical, and reflective thinking,
as well as an ability to question assumptions,
identify biases, and assess evidence.
At its core, critical thinking involves several
key skills and habits, including:
Analyzing and interpreting information:
This involves identifying key concepts and
ideas, recognizing patterns and relationships,
and evaluating the reliability and relevance of
sources.
Evaluating arguments and claims: This
involves assessing the validity and soundness
of arguments, identifying flaws or weaknesses
in reasoning, and recognizing common fallacies
and biases.
Synthesizing and integrating information:
This involves integrating different sources of
information, recognizing common themes and
patterns, and constructing new insights or
perspectives.
Generating and testing hypotheses: This
involves formulating hypotheses or theories,
testing them through empirical observation or
experimentation, and revising or refining them
based on evidence.
Communicating and collaborating
effectively: This involves articulating ideas
clearly and persuasively, engaging in
constructive dialogue and debate, and
recognizing and respecting different
perspectives and viewpoints.
ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS
OF CRITICAL THINKING
1.Analysis: Critical thinking involves
breaking down complex problems or issues into
their constituent parts to understand them
better. This often includes examining the
evidence, arguments, and assumptions that
underlie a given situation or statement.
2.Evaluation: Critical thinkers assess the
quality and relevance of information,
arguments, or solutions. They consider the
credibility of sources, the validity of reasoning,
and the potential biases or fallacies present in
arguments.
3.Problem-Solving: Critical thinking is a
foundational skill for problem-solving. It helps
individuals identify challenges, develop
potential solutions, and evaluate those solutions
for effectiveness and feasibility.
4.Open-Mindedness: Critical thinkers
approach issues with an open mind, willing to
consider alternative viewpoints and evidence
that may challenge their own beliefs or
assumptions. They avoid making hasty
judgments.
5.Inquisitiveness: Critical thinkers are
naturally curious and ask questions to gain a
deeper understanding of a topic. They seek to
gather information and explore various
perspectives.
6.Skepticism: While not overly cynical,
critical thinkers maintain a healthy skepticism.
They are cautious about accepting information
without evidence and question claims that lack
substantiation.
7.Clear Communication: Critical
thinkers can articulate their thoughts and ideas
clearly and effectively, both in speaking and
writing. They can explain their reasoning and
conclusions to others.
8.Logical Reasoning: Critical thinking
involves applying sound logic and reasoning
principles to draw valid conclusions. This
includes recognizing and avoiding common
logical fallacies.
9.Problem Complexity: Critical thinking
is particularly valuable when dealing with
complex, ambiguous, or multifaceted problems
that may not have straightforward solutions.
10.Decision-Making: In making
decisions, critical thinkers weigh the pros and
cons of various options, consider potential
consequences, and base their choices on
reasoned analysis rather than impulsive
reactions.
11.Continuous Improvement: Critical
thinking is a skill that can be developed and
improved over time through practice and self-
reflection. It involves a commitment to ongoing
learning and growth.
PRACTICAL
IMPLICATIONS
OF CRITICAL THINKING
Critical thinkers rigorously question ideas and
assumptions rather than accepting them at face
value. They will always seek to determine
whether the ideas, arguments and findings
represent the entire picture and are open to
finding that they do not.
Critical thinkers will identify, analyse and solve
problems systematically rather than by intuition
or instinct.
Someone with critical thinking skills can:
1.Understand the links between ideas.
2.Determine the importance and relevance of
arguments and ideas.
3.Recognise, build and appraise arguments.
4.Identify inconsistencies and errors in
reasoning.
5.Approach problems in a consistent and
systematic way.
6.Reflect on the justification of their own
assumptions, beliefs and values.
Example:
Uncritical thinking: “I’m stressed out because I
have an exam in the morning; I think I’ll have
another beer.”
Critical thinking: “I’d like a beer, but I have an
exam in the morning and alcohol is a
depressant, so I’ll be happier in the long run if I
abstain tonight.”
NEED OF CRITICAL
THINKING.
Driven by AI, Cloud-Computing, Machine
learning and more, the fourth industrial
revolution requires flexible skills and an ability
to analyze and integrate information for
problem-solving. Critical thinking helps improve
evaluative, deductive, and problem-solving
abilities. Providing tools for self-evaluation,
critical thinking is a crucial element of a properly
functioning society. This domain-general
thinking skill is an asset whether you are a
university student or a professional in finance,
research, management, or legal field. It is safe
to say that mastering critical thinking will have a
profoundly positive impact on nearly every
aspect of life.
Prominent use of critical thinking
As a Professional:--
• Critical thinking will help reach to the root of
the problem quickly.
• Taking a structured approach will help simplify
the problem and provide multiple solutions to
the problem.
• Helping compare the available options
rationally critical thinking will guide you towards
scalable and robust solutions.
• Staying well-informed will boost your self-
confidence. Additionally, it will enhance the
confidence of your team members in your skills
and capabilities.
As a Manager:-
• Critical thinking will help anticipate problems
and find solutions in advance for potential
challenges.
• Critical thinking through a combination of
knowledge and research will help make
impartial judgements.
• It will help build a well-qualified team.
• It will help streamline the work process
through constructive delegating of work.
• Critical thinking will help in maintaining
effective leadership.
• Delegate work in a more constructive manner
As an Interviewee
• Backing your responses with logic and data
will create a favourable first impression on the
interviewer.
• Having a critical mindset will help you stay
calm during a tricky interview process, helping
you stay ahead of the competition, and
improving your chances of getting hired.
As a Leader in Senior Position
• Purposeful, well-reasoned, and solution-
centric approach will help create a vision for the
team and inspire others to collaborate on the
same.
• Analysing and adapting your approach to
decision-making and problem-solving will
increase the probability of a successful
outcome.
• Critical thinking will help create a balance
between departmental challenges with broader
company issues and embrace a larger
responsibility for the success of the
organisation.
In Business Environment
• Critical thinking will help deal with the
contradictions and challenges of a dynamic
environment in a productive way, putting the
company – in a much stronger position to lead
and succeed.
• Critical thinking will help solve the right
problems by understanding the business drivers
and connecting them to the strategic and
financial goals of the organization.
• Critical thinking will help create solutions in
alignment with the company’s growth.
As students and a whole
1.Better Problem-Solving:Critical
thinking enhances problem-solving skills by
enabling individuals to analyze complex
situations, identify key issues, and develop
effective solutions
2.Informed Decision-Making:Critical
thinkers make well-informed decisions based
on evidence, reasoning, and a comprehensive
understanding of the situation. This leads to
more thoughtful and effective decision-making
in personal and professional contexts.
3.Enhanced Creativity:Critical
thinking fosters creativity by encouraging
individuals to explore different perspectives,
question assumptions, and generate innovative
ideas.
4.Improved Communication:Critical
thinkers are better equipped to articulate and
communicate their ideas clearly and
persuasively.
5.Increased Analytical Skills:Critical
thinking enhances analytical skills, allowing
individuals to break down complex information
into manageable parts, identify patterns, and
discern relationships between different
elements.
6.Effective Problem
Identification:Critical thinkers excel at identifying
and defining problems accurately. They can
recognize underlying issues, distinguish
between symptoms and causes, and formulate
precise problem statements.
7.Open-Mindedness:Critical thinking
encourages an open-minded approach to
information and ideas. Individuals are more
willing to consider alternative perspectives,
entertain new possibilities, and adapt their
views based on evidence.
8.Better Planning and
Organization:Critical thinkers are adept at
planning and organizing tasks effectively. They
can prioritize information, set goals, and create
logical plans of action, contributing to greater
efficiency in personal and professional end.
9.Conflict Resolution: Critical thinking
facilitates constructive dialogue and conflict
resolution by encouraging individuals to
understand opposing viewpoints and find
common ground.
10.Lifelong Learning: Critical thinking is
essential for continuous learning and personal
growth, as it encourages individuals to seek
new knowledge and refine their understanding.
11.Academic and Professional Success:
In educational and professional settings, critical
thinking is highly valued. It allows individuals to
excel in tasks that require analysis, evaluation,
and problem-solving
12.Resisting Manipulation: In an era of
information overload, critical thinking helps
individuals discern credible information from
misinformation, reducing the risk of being
swayed by biased or misleading content.
Concluding remarks;
Critical thinking is the process of evaluating
information and arguments to make well-
informed decisions. It can help us in our lives by
allowing us to:
Make better decisions
Solve problems more effectively
Understand different perspectives
Evaluate claims and arguments
Recognize bias and fallacies
.. because as a human we are entitled with the
privilege of thinking rationally and reasonablly
to form our unbiased decisions and informed
proposition for the day to day life.
