Critical Thinking | Think Again UVA

What is Critical Thinking?

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."

Aristotle

Critical thinking is the ability to discern all sides of any given issue for oneself, rather than taking someone else’s word for it.

We learn more when we approach all sides of a question, research the pros and cons of each, and then decide the best way forward based on the best available information, data, and evidence — rather than simply being told by others.

In the sciences, the equivalent would be the scientific method: testing a theory for oneself using data and evidence, rather than just assuming that a theory is automatically true.

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Critical Thinking Definition, Skills, and Examples

Critical thinking refers to the ability to analyze information objectively and make a reasoned judgment.

A Brief History of the Idea of Critical Thinking

The intellectual roots of critical thinking are as ancient as its etymology, traceable, ultimately, to the teaching practice and vision of Socrates 2,500 years ago who discovered by a method of probing questioning that people could not rationally justify their confident claims to knowledge.

Skills You Need: Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally, understanding the logical connection between ideas