Critical Thinking

How do you know what to think? We think critically when we are: Rational - Self-aware - Honest - Disciplined - Open-minded - Judicious - rely on reason rather than emotion require evidence are concerned more with finding the best explanation than being right weigh the influences of motives and bias recognize our own assumptions, prejudices, biases, or point of view recognize emotional impulses, selfish motives, nefarious purposes, or other modes of self-deception consider a variety of possible viewpoints or perspectives do not reject unpopular views out of hand remain open to alternative interpretations precise, meticulous, comprehensive, and exhaustive resist manipulation and irrational appeals avoid snap judgments recognize the relevance and/or merit of alternative assumptions and perspectives recognize the extent and weight of evidence You get in trouble when you: see things in black and white; see questions as yes or no with no subtleties; fail to see linkages and complexities; are egotistical, overly sensitve, or afraid to challenge your own beliefs.