Title: Chapter 17. Analyzing Community Problems and Solutions | Section 2. Thinking Critically | Main Section | Community Tool Box
Headings: Section 2. Thinking Critically
Section 2. Thinking Critically
What is critical thinking?
Why is critical thinking important?
Who can (and should) learn to think critically?
How do you help people learn to think critically?
What is critical thinking?
Elements of critical thinking
Goals of critical thinking
Why is critical thinking important?
Who can (and should) learn to think critically?
How do you help people learn to think critically?
How to be a critical thinking facilitator
How to encourage the critical stance
Facilitating problem solving using critical thinking
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Content: When you come across a politician's statement in the media, do you accept it at face value? Do you accept some people's statements and not others'? The chances are you exercise at least some judgment, based on what you know about the particular person, and whether you generally agree with her or not. Knowing whether or not you agree with someone is not necessarily the same as critical thinking, however. Your reaction may be based on emotion ("I hate that guy!"), or on the fact that this elected official supports programs that are in your interest, even though they may not be in the best interests of everyone else. What's important about critical thinking is that it helps you to sort out what's accurate and what's not, and to give you a solid, factual base for solving problems or addressing issues. Specific reasons for the importance of critical thinking: It identifies bias. Critical thinking identifies both the bias in what it looks at (its object), and the biases you yourself bring to it.