Critical Thinking: Methods, Beliefs, Applications and Analysis

This essay explores critical thinking, defining it as the ability to analyze one's thinking and present facts to support ideas. It highlights the importance of critical thinking in enhancing communication, problem-solving, reasoning, and presentation skills. The essay discusses various methods of critical thinking, such as inquiring about different views, assessing information from various sources, and considering all information to be helpful. It addresses whether following these methods leads to uniform beliefs, considering factors like individual thinking capacity, exposure, and background. The essay also examines the possibility of competent individuals holding radically different beliefs despite employing the same critical thinking methods, using examples like conspiracy theories and creationism. Ultimately, the essay concludes that critical thinking does not entail believing in particular things but rather facilitates rational judgment based on observations, acknowledging that different individuals may arrive at different conclusions even when applying the same methods. Desklib provides access to this essay and a wealth of resources to support students' academic endeavors.

Running Head: PHILOSOPHY 1
Philosophy
Name
Institution

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Critical thinking is the ability to analyze ones way of thinking and present facts for ones
ideas rather than accepting the personal reasoning as enough proof in a simple way. It comprises
of effective communication ability to solve problems and a guarantee to overcome the native
egocentrism and socio-centrism. Critical thinking is self-disciplined, self-directed and self-
monitored. It encompasses effective communication and abilities to solve problems as well as a
vow to surpass our inborn socio-centrism and egocentrism (Ariely, 2008).
Importance of critical thinking are as follows; it’s a set of general thinking skills: critical
thinking is unrestricted to any area of subjection. The ability to proper thinking and a
systematical problems solving is a component for any career. Critical thinking enhances one’s
ability to associate and work with different people: This is because it helps us to comprehend
other people’s views better (Jennifer, 2012). Critical thinking enhances peoples’ reasoning
capability and this helps at arriving at quality conclusions. When techniques of critical thinking
are applied effectively, the view of different arguments among people become clearer and easily
comprehended (Berger, 2014).
It improves presentation skills and language: clear thinking and planning can enhance the
way of expressing ideas (Levitin, 2014). It also enhances comprehension abilities through
learning how to subject comprehension structure of text. Enhances inventions: coming up with a
possible solution to problem requires new ideas that are useful, well generated and even
applicable to the duties at hand by evaluation of new ideas. Enhances academic performance:
students who can subject ideas can be able to make connections across different fields because
they value education which is relevant to their daily life.

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Methods of critical thinking include:
1. Inquire people’s views and their arguments concerning the process.
2. Asses the information characterized by the facts from all sources hence comes
with a reasonable conclusion.
3. Come up with a weighty source of data that will help in elevating the arguments
to the next level.
4. Consider all information to be helpful by finding a better team to help come out
with a reasonable data.
5. Take enough time to revise all the information you have come up with by saving
your time.
6. Convey the results and findings so as to avoid the organization confusion that
could come up as a result of getting mixed up.
Does it mean that if everyone follows the methods of critical thinking they will end up
believing the same thing?
By inquiring individuals different views and arguments, concerning the key methods of
proper critical thinking, which are based on the reasons given to the identified problems, it is
possible that everyone may start thinking in the same direction but with a slight difference based
on their views and conclusion can make them end up believing in a different things (Kida, 2015).
Critical thinking employs different techniques ranging from looking into a matter deeply and
analyzing it before coming up with a conclusion (Michael, 2014). People have different thinking
capacity and different level of exposure to various places and things, it is likely that this factors
will affect how they think even where they employ same methods of critical thinking. Two

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people talking arguing about the existence of God are likely to come up with contrasting views
depending on their religious background and cultural background.
Since critical thinking promotes inventions, few individuals can also gather and end up
coming with possible creative solutions to a problem which requires useful new ideas, well
generated and even applicable to the work at hand. This can only be helpful by finding a better
team to help come out with a reasonable data. Critical thinking improves presentation skills and
language in a way that thinking clearly and planning can enhance the way of expressing different
ideas (Mcinerny, 2005). Through this people can come up with different, weighty sources of
ideas hence ending up believing different things.
Academically based, it is true that students who can analyze ideas are able to make
connections across different fields. It is through these different connections that may lead to
different results and findings, thus finally leading different thoughts and things (Levitin, 2017).
Is it possible to imagine two professors of critical thinking, (both of whom are
competent) who believe radically different things about 9/11 conspiracy theory, the existence of
ghost and creationism?
The two professors have different views and arguments concerning different topics
despite using the same methods of critical thinking which majorly relies on reasons for a specific
problem. Though it is possible that the two professors could think along the same direction if
subjected to same critical thinking methods, but there would be slight difference owing to
personal differences between the two.

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For example, on the existence of ghost, if both professors employ the same method of
critical thinking, the idea about ghost existence would become clearer owing to thinking more,
improved arguments and the sorts of fallacies to avoid. Despite the common view of this element
they are likely to arrive at different conclusion though about the same topic. Critical thinking
helps improves ones judgment, reasoning and how they view things but does not limit them from
making their own personal conclusions (Albrecht, 1979). People can come up with same
reasoning on a topic or totally a different view of the same topic having employed critical
thinking methods.
Does critical thinking entail that we must believe in particular things about various
issues? If so, then under what circumstances? If not then what is the point of critical thinking?
Since critical thinking is the ability to have a clear thought and reasoning well about what
to believe and do then it should also include the capability to involve in an independent thinking.
Therefore, it does not entail that we must believe particular things about various issues because
even critical thinkers with a fresh good memory and who knows more of real facts is still
regarded inevitable good at critical thinking because he/she might be convinced with some facts
that are deceitful inform of unique information. For instance, coming up with an irrelevant task
at hand in order to evaluate new ideas hence leading to a false and exaggerated data to
individuals, is one of the circumstances proving that it’s hard to believe particular things about
various issues concerning different aspects of life owing to different approaches given to them
(Krogerus, et al, 2008).
It can be noted that critical thinking hsas really helped different individuals in different
principles such as coming up with wise thoughts that guides one on how to argue positively and

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also how to overcome deceitful facts in life situations. But still in regards of critical thinking,
individuals can think the same way as the other and this does not mean that they will end up
thinking of equal views and conclusions since the original sources of information’s and facts
might differ from one person to the other. Actually critical thinking makes one think deeper in
view of an issue and this could explain the difference in opinions on the same subject matter by
people.
Conclusively, critical thinking gives one the ability to critically analyze a controversial
issue by dissecting its structure, thesis and components. In applying the critical thinking methods
effectively one is able to form a rational judgment based on their observations when same
methods and techniques of critical thinking are applied by different people over the same matter,
the outcome of their views may be in the same line of subject but will not be the same.
Therefore, critical thinking is an important aspects of our lives and should be utilized in any
arguments as it will facilitate the solution to the particular problem.

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REFERENCES
Albrecht, K. (1979). Brain power: Learn to improve your thinking skills. Pocket books.
Ariely, D. (2008) Predictability irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions.
HarperCollins. United States.
Berger, W. (2014). A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough
Ideas. Bloomsbury. New York, United states.
Jennifer W, M. (2012). Thinking critically about critical thinking. Educational philosophy and
theory. Article. Retrieved from DOI 10.1111/j 1469-5812.2010.00673.x
Kida, T., E. (2015). Don’t Believe Everything You Think: The Six Basic Mistakes We Make in
Thinking. Prometheus books.
Krogerus, M., Tschappeler, R., Earnhat P., & Piening, J. (2008). The Decision Book: 50 Models
for Strategic Thinking.
Levitin, D. J. (2014) The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information overload
(3rd Ed.). Dutton Penguin. United States.
Levitin, D., J. (2017). Weaponised Lies: How to Think Critically in The Post-Truth error (2nd
Ed.) Dutton. Allen-lane. Canada.
Mcinerny. D. Q. (2005). Being logical. A guide to good thinking. Random house group. Lincoln,
Nebraska.
Michael, K. (2014). Think smatter: Critical thinking to improve problem-solving and decision
making skills. Willey. United States.

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