Introduction To Critical Thinking Skills: Presented by Lynne April Reading and Writing Facilitator Aprill@unisa - Ac.za
Uploaded by
Muhammad Jawwaad AklekerIntroduction To Critical Thinking Skills: Presented by Lynne April Reading and Writing Facilitator Aprill@unisa - Ac.za
Uploaded by
Muhammad Jawwaad AklekerIntroduction to
Critical Thinking
Skills
Presented by Lynne April
Reading and Writing Facilitator
[email protected]
Analogy
Dependence
Give someone a fish and
they will eat whole day
Self-reliance
Team them how to fish
and they will never go
hungry
Learning Skills
What is Critical Thinking?
A process of applying reasoned and disciplined thoughts
to a subject.
Involves the ability to actively and skillfully
conceptualize, analyze, question and evaluate ideas and
beliefs.
Is the opposite of dogma. Dogma is unquestioned
information information that is embraced without the
intervention of active thought or criticism.
Is to question the ideas and beliefs of others and oneself
and to challenge dogma and authority.
Steps to Critical Thinking
Steps to Critical Thinking
Identify Assumptions
If there is no evidence and it
hasnt been proved it is an
assumption.
Check Accuracy &
Validity
Research information and find whether what is being
communicated is valid and factual.
Consider Alternative
Perspective
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZgT1SRcrKE
Critical thinking
Strategies
Consciously raising questions
Being aware of gaps in information
Probing for assumptions
Appropriately drawing inferences from data
Being aware of ones own reasoning
Testing ones own reasoning
Performing hypothetical deductive reasoning
Critical Thinking
Strategies
Note missing
evidence
Identify relationships
Cause and effect
Summarize
information
Determine credibility
Recognize patterns
Classifying
information
Identify ambiguity
Identify variables
Formulate questions
Identify
issue/problem
Why Should We Be
Critical Thinkers
Look at four reasons why it matters:
Self- defense
Empowerment
Civic Duty
More concrete, but it becomes more abstract and
philosophical
Critical Thinking for Self-
defense
Why do people take martial arts classes?
Answer: In order to protect themselves from
potential danger if necessary.
The Analogy
People to do physical harm
Powerful institutions are in the influence business. It
is their JOB to influence our beliefs, values and actions in
ways that are in contradiction to our true-self interest.
(when being influenced we might be harmed)
Constant Tug of War
MTN
Coke
ANC
Conservative
Mac
Religious
Cell C
Pepsi
DA
Liberal
PC
Non-religious
The Science of Influence
Companies hire professionals to reach their
objectives.
People become strategists of the art of
persuasion.
Your reaction to the strategies implemented
are irrational compared to your true self-
interest.
A Good Education in
Critical Thinking
Can immunize us be learning how to
discriminate between good and bad
reasoning for belief and action.
Can sensitize us to the sophisticated
manipulations, psychological tactics, bad
arguments and non-arguments used by
powerful institutions.
Thinking to Empower
Ourselves
Common View
Logic and
argumentation
Rhetoric and
psychology
Tools for Critical Thinking
Logic
Argumentation
Rhetoric
Psychology
Critical Thinking and
Civic Duty
Liberal Democracy
Liberal freedom and equality
Democracy rule by the people
Questions
What role does critical thinking play
in a democratic society?
Do citizens of a democratic country
have a civic duty to cultivate their
critical thinking skills?
Worrisome
We dont teach critical thinking at schools.
Only a fraction of university and college
students take a critical thinking course.
Global trend is the further marginalization
of liberal arts education.
