I have found that critical thinking has been described as follows:

“Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action. In its exemplary form, it is based on universal intellectual values that transcend subject matter divisions: clarity, accuracy, precision, consistency, relevance, sound evidence, good reasons, depth, breadth, and fairness…”

~ A statement by Michael Scriven & Richard Paul, presented at the 8th Annual International Conference on Critical Thinking and Education Reform, 1987. 

“Critical thinking is self-guided, self-disciplined thinking which attempts to reason at the highest level of quality in a fair-minded way.

~ Linda Elder, September, 2007

Both of the above statements put forth that critical thinking is a disciplined process as opposed to thinking that is more automatic in nature. 

This is not to say that critical thinking is something we roll out on special occasions.  We use critical thinking skills in everyday activities such as purchasing decisions large and small, deciding between job offers and where to live. We gather information, review what we have learned in terms of what we are looking for and then make a decision.

If we use critical thinking skills every day why are we not using these same skills in our public dialog, in being better informed and making better decisions?

Your constructive comments are welcome.

The Fair-minded Thinker