Basics of Critical Thinking Essay

The majority of scholars acknowledge the significance of critical thinking development because such skills are more vital for positive life choices than raw intelligence. It is often difficult for anyone to clearly distinguish the worth of critical thinking in everyday life However, everyday decisions made by individuals have the potential to affect them, their families and society. Thus, because sometimes the stakes and consequences of the decisions are high, critical thinking skills are essential. The demands of purposeful and reflective judgment at every stage of life necessitate strong critical thinking skills. This essay will explore the meaning of critical thinking, its importance and the application in everyday life.

The Meaning of Critical Thinking

Critical thinking entails the capability to objectively examine information to reach a rational decision. It is an extensively accepted educational objective. Although the conceptions of the term may differ, the basic idea is that involves careful thinking aimed at an objective. In essence, it is a higher level of reasoning and practice of utilizing various advanced skills of thinking in multifaceted ways. According to Hitchcock (2018), critical thinking is central to the thought and entails how facts are distinguished, arguments established and reasonable judgments made and not simply the facts, arguments and conclusions that can be made. For example, in the age of social media where fake news is rampant, critical thinking can help an individual to distinguish facts from misleading information. Moreover, critical thinking is a self- reflexive process allowing an individual to test, question and reflect on thoughts and also think independently (Verma, 2015). However, it differs from just thinking because it focuses on biases, flaws, and assumptions in reasoning, it entails deep and extensive questioning and involves a criterion of reaching a decision.

Some behaviors central to critical thinking enable individuals to be curious and reflective. These behaviors include seeking clarifications through questioning and answering, explaining terms, highlighting assumptions, interpretation of facts, predicting and objectively addressing both sides of a problem (Larson, 2019). In essence, critical thinking involves the ability to be curious and reflective in the exploration of new ideas, interpretations, and solutions. For example, a critical thinker would ask relevant questions, examine arguments and statements properly and be able to differentiate between beliefs and facts about climate change. Critical thinking also allows for an open mind, acknowledging new ideas and actively learning or understanding where appropriate.

Importance of Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is significant across all ages because it encourages curiosity and creativity, problem- solving, ability to predict future needs or events and independence. First, critical thinking inspires the development of curiosity which enables an individual to grasp a deeper understanding of their environment essential for survival. For example, critical thinking is crucial for students to understand various topics and also the environment relevant to their schooling life. Similarly, critical thinking encourages a creative mind that is essential in professional, business and social life which demand creativity. For instance, an entrepreneur who develops creative products and marketing approaches is likely to succeed in the market place.

Besides, critical thinking enables individuals to use facts and the understanding of the environment to predict future needs or events. Being in the right place with the right skills, knowledge, and information is paramount for personal success. However, often there is a need to understand what the future might look like to allow for adequate preparedness. A critical thinker would be able to synthesize the current events and existing knowledge objectively to predict- real-world outcomes. Critical thinking is far more useful than intelligence in predictive real-world outcomes (Butler, Pentoney & Bong, 2017). Thus, it would be important to use critical thinking in fields such as education, business, economics, and climate in an attempt to paint the picture of what the future might look like.

Additionally, critical thinking enhances the ability to solve problems and think independently. Individuals who are critical thinkers often possess the ability to come up with imaginative solutions (Sellars et al., 2018). Such can be a vital skill for learners to acquire at an early age. Because today’s learners are tomorrow’s leaders, it is vital to have the ability to use critical thinking to come up with creative solutions. Likewise, as an individual learns how to think independently, they are likely to become an exceptional leader which is one objective of education. Thus, the ability to make sense of the environment is what offers learners the crucial tools to make rational judgments independently.

Everyday Uses of Critical Thinking

Various uses of critical thinking in everyday life include making decisions about personal wellness. Among the biggest challenges facing students is being responsible for their wellbeing (ACC, 2019). Wellbeing is defined by the ability to balance school-life to enhance emotional, physical and social wellbeing. For instance, critical thinking is essential for an individual who starts physical exercises and after a period of time, they evaluate the results. The ability to use the information they had before starting the program and the current results would enable one to make the decision whether or not to continue with the activity.

Besides, critical thinking is applicable when making everyday purchase decisions. Most people now utilize more time to research items before making the final decision to purchase and avoid mistakes. For example, comparing prices for an item offered by various online retailers reduces the risk of buying from a costly retailer. Such a practice also maintains and enhances wellbeing and lifestyle. As well, questioning how making a purchase would affect others including family, friends or the community is part of critical thinking.

Critical thinking is also applicable to individuals making career decisions. Some decisions take time while others can be resolved quickly (Sutler-Cohen, 2019). In any way, when considering whether to attend college or focus on sports it is crucial to highlight the financial, social and professional implications of the decision. For instance, an individual would need to ask if the step is the right one, and after making the decision project its likely impacts some years into the future. However, critical thinking is all it takes to make a rational decision.

Likewise, in the modern era of social media, critical thinking is an essential tool in distinguishing facts from fake news. Today, social media information travels faster not because it is accurate nut because it is popular (Burkhardt, 2017). Therefore, in the age of the internet, fake news becomes inevitable. However, critical thinkers can be able to analyze and interpret information to distinguish genuine reports from misleading fake news, altered images or twitter bots and avoid the damage such can cause.