The word Critical thinking is translated from English, and it first comes from Socrates' teaching to Plato. Critical thinking does not mean criticizing anyone or overthrowing anyone's theory, nor does it mean arguing with others. It refers to thinking and understanding oneself and others' views cautiously and from multiple angles under the condition of equality of personality. It is the same as "interrogation, careful thinking and discernment" in The Doctrine of the Mean.
As a discipline, critical thinking is generally considered to have originated from the concept of "reflective thinking" put forward by Dewey, an American philosopher and educator. Then in the 192s, the American Association for Progressive Education launched a critical thinking movement in primary and secondary education, the most famous of which was the "eight-year study".
There are two main achievements. One is that the word "critical thinking" officially replaced Dewey's "reflective thinking". The other is that a set of critical thinking test questions was developed at that time, "Watson-Glazer Critical Thinking Assessment", which is still in use today.
Since 197s and 198s, experts have put forward various definitions of critical thinking. I roughly divide these definitions into two categories. The first category I call "reactive definition", that is, its focus is to evaluate the existing intellectual achievements. Its key words are "questioning and evaluating". The second kind of definition, which I call "constructive definition", focuses on making judgments and decisions in complex situations, and its key words are "judgment and decision".
For example, anyone who knows a little about critical thinking will probably have heard of Ennis's definition, which is a typical constructive definition. "Critical thinking is a reasonable reflective thinking for the decision of what to believe or do." In other words, its ultimate goal is how to use critical thinking to make comprehensive decisions on complex issues, rather than just evaluating what others say or demonstrate. Ennis's definition is widely quoted and influential. It is broad enough to cover situations where critical thinking is needed to the maximum extent. But such critical thinking is almost no different from "good thinking".
There is also a definition of critical thinking, which comes from Richard Paul, another leading figure in critical thinking. He believes that the goal of critical thinking is based on well-founded judgment, which determines the true value of things by using appropriate criteria. Critical thinking has three dimensions: analysis, evaluation and creativity. This definition gives some standards and is more operable.
in the final analysis, critical thinking is a tool, and it is a tool that is effective for you and kind to the other person. We encourage you to use this tool to discover the truth of the world, and don't stop you from discovering the beauty of your faith because of your own prejudices.
Critical thinking is rethinking thinking, which has three key words: persistent questioning, multiple opinions and rational judgment. The refinement of these three words comes from the sharing of Professor Wu Zhihong and is also based on the study of western critical thinking.
1.? Unremitting questioning: No matter what other people's views or your own, you must have a sense of questioning. We should recognize and admit our limitations, and be curious and patient with complex problems. But I don't question for the sake of questioning, nor do I fall into skepticism, and I don't believe anything anymore. Questioning is to better believe.
2.? Multiple opinions: realize that many problems are complicated. Treat different viewpoints equally with an open mind. Be interested in other people's opinions, not just thinking about how to convince others. Don't think that your own opinion is the best, but it doesn't mean that you must accept others' opinions in an all-round way.
3.? Rational judgment: rationality means not being manipulated by feelings, but being able to make wise judgments after careful consideration and evidence. On the basis of rational judgment, make decisions, solve problems and take actions.
There are different Chinese translations of critical thinking. Critical thinking is the earliest and most widely spread translation, and there is also a correspondence between criticism and judgment. Only in the past few decades, China society has misunderstood the word criticism, thinking that criticism is negation.
The Hong Kong Council of Education once used the word "critical thinking", and later it was translated as "critical thinking", which means debating or discriminating. In fact, everyone is talking about critical thinking in English. Which translation to use is not the most important in itself, but more important is to understand its connotation. Critical thinking is a way of thinking that can question a certain point of view and give reasonable basis and argument to support this question. Critical thinking contributes to individual rational thinking and objective decision-making, and can play a positive role for us as individuals and even enterprises.
critical thinking is an important starting point to promote the rational decision-making of enterprises. Generally speaking, the decision-making of enterprises needs to comprehensively consider multiple factors such as internal and external environment, and faces greater complexity, uncertainty and risk.
Critical thinking is an effective help to promote individual rational thinking. With the advent of the information age, people receive more and more information, and sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between true and false. Critical thinking can help individuals to establish a sense of rational analysis, optimize the way of looking at problems, and improve their ability to distinguish, analyze and extract information. On the one hand, it helps to improve the individual's independent thinking ability and not fall into a state of conformity; On the other hand, it also enables us to use information more efficiently to assist our own decision-making.
Education aims at students' success both in and out of the classroom. Should our education also take critical thinking as the core competence of human beings? I have always believed that critical thinking ability is really just needed, but most people don't realize it.
people live according to the way they are shaped by society, but never think about the other possibilities of life. Many people are used to the present state of this society, and have never thought about what kind of better society our children might live in. Change, you can start by changing your own thinking.