Knowra Critical thinking Critical thinking Critical thinking is the disciplined analysis and evaluation of information, arguments, and assumptions to form reasoned judgments. It combines interpretation, evidence assessment, and reflective judgment rather than relying on intuition or authority alone.
Argument : A set of claims in which premises are offered to support a conclusion. Critical thinking tests whether premises actually support the conclusion.
Claim : A statement asserting that something is true or should be done. Identifying the precise claim prevents evaluation from drifting to a different question.
Confirmation bias : The tendency to favor information that supports existing beliefs over information that challenges them. It shows why evaluating opposing evidence requires deliberate effort.
Media literacy : The ability to access, interpret, evaluate, and create media messages. It applies source and argument evaluation to news, images, and online content.
Socrates : An ancient Greek philosopher known chiefly through dialogues describing his questioning method. Socratic questioning probes definitions, assumptions, and contradictions in claims.
Logical reasoning : The use of rules of inference to derive conclusions from premises. It helps distinguish valid inference from persuasive wording.
Source criticism : The assessment of a source's origin, purpose, reliability, and evidential basis. A claim's apparent support depends partly on who produced its source and how.
Motivated reasoning : Reasoning shaped by a desired conclusion rather than an impartial assessment of evidence. It can make analysis appear rigorous while quietly serving a preferred outcome.
Scientific method : A systematic approach to developing and testing explanations through observation and experimentation. It institutionalizes scrutiny of hypotheses, evidence, and alternative explanations.
John Dewey : An American philosopher and educator who developed pragmatist accounts of inquiry and education. His account of reflective thought links careful inquiry to problem solving.
Show all 27