critical thinking + why it is more important than ever

Many people, when they encounter the phrase “critical thinking”, roll their eyes or simply tune out altogether, and it truly is easy to understand why. It requires effort!

Critical thought requires something from you.

It is not what I like to call, fast or lazy thinking, meaning; immediate reactions fuelled by uninspected presuppositions, thoughts and emotions. Nor is it as simple as people being comfortable with not challenging their own or other’s thoughts or opinions.

However, I can understand that the word ‘critical’ often carries negative connotations. So let’s pull back and get some working definitions established. An extremely brief Google search provides two definitions; the first of which is where the problem lies.

“expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgement(s)”

Obviously, yes critical can be seen as the guy in the corner yelling, “that’s wrong, and you suck!” at every turn you encounter. However, I want to draw your attention to the latter definition

“expressing or involving an analysis of the merits and faults of an idea, thought or text”

This definition breathes life into a more holistic meaning of critical thought. One can simply expressing or analyse an idea, a doctrine, a society, a thought-pattern, a situation, a person’s personality, a circumstance, almost anything can be thought about in a critical manner, and to neglect to do so (in moderation) may even be foolish.