Critical Thinking

Thinking about one's thinking in a manner designed to organize and clarify, raise the efficiency of, and recognize errors and biases in one's own thinking.

Critical thinking is not 'hard' thinking nor is it directed at solving problems (other than 'improving' one's own thinking).

Critical thinking is inward-directed with the intent of maximizing the rationality of the thinker.

One does not use critical thinking to solve problems—one uses critical thinking to improve one's process of thinking.

Why do we need it?

• Poor thinking leads to bad decisions
• Poor thinking can be exploited by others

Our Focus

• Awareness of cognitive biases
• Awareness of logical fallacies

Cognitive Biases

The first thing you judge influences your judgment of all that follows.

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