Critical Thinking

Example of Hasty Generalization.

: Cindy is not a very smart person. Cindy is blonde. Therefore, all blondes are airheads.

Example of sticking to a purpose.

A critical thinker can explicitly state goals. Leaders must be able to clearly explain the reason for for their decisions supporting their goals to both superiors and subordinates.

Fairness

A critical thinker wants to justify thought, and the way he or she does that is by thinking in a "balanced" context. This is among the universal intellectual standards because thinking "balanced" pushes aside a person's inclination to pursue self-interest or to use manipulation.

Clarity

A gateway standard and relevant to all others. If a statement or question is unclear, you can't determine whether it is accurate, relevant or logical.

Breadth

A line of reasoning may be clear, accurate, precise, relevant, and deep, but it may be one-sided.

Example of Precision

A man tells a friend about having financial problems and asks for help. If the friend doesn't ask for more specifics, he may not be able to assist the man. The friend might ask about the specific nature of the problem and what variables there may be to consider in order to seek a solution.

Relevance

A statement can be clear, accurate, and precise, but not have anything to do with the issue at hand..

Depth

A statement can be clear, accurate, precise, but superficial, lacking thought or communication. Thinking becomes more productive when you can recognize complicated questions or issues and learn to address each area of complexity within them.

Precision

A statement may be clear and accurate, but not precise, as in "It is so hot outside today." This doesn't reveal the actual temperature. Depending on where you are from, hot can mean different a variety of temperatures. Detail in this case adds --------.

Accuracy

A statement may be clear, but not have -------, as in "F-15s have propellers.

Example of Guilt by Association.

A1C Smith tests positive on his urinalysis for marijuana use. The commander directs his roommate, A1C Snow, to be temporarily removed from duty and tested for drug use because they live together. The commander is assuming that since they live together, A1C Snow also uses drugs.

All reasoning is based on Assumptions

All reasoning begins with certain premises. But these may be defective and deter you from solid reasoning.

All reasoning is expressed through, and shaped by, Concepts and Ideas

All reasoning uses a certain approach to the exclusion of others. An approach may include theories, principles, axioms, and rules. They help you, as a critical thinker, focus deeply on the approach you use.

Fallacy

An argument that appears sound, at first glance, but contains a flaw in reasoning that makes it unsound.

All reasoning leads somewhere or has Implications and Consequences

As a leader, you understand that your decisions have repercussion. As a critical thinker, you want to understand the significance of your decisions and trace the logical repercussions beforehand.

Example of Relevance

Cadets often think the amount of effort they put into writing a paper shouldbe used in raising their grade. Often, however, the "effort" does not measure the quality of cadet learning. Therefore, effort is not relevant to the grade.

Example of Significance

College cadets often fail to ask the most important question about what they need to do to become educated. Instead, they focus on how to satisfy a certain professor, or "How do I get an A in this course?"

All reasoning is based on Data, Information and Evidence

Computer technology has sped information flow dramatically in this century. The Air Force's technical and operational information comes at you so rapidly, and in such volume, that you must be vigilant in taking all this knowledge into account. A small defect in material, for example, can become sources of problems in reasoning as you seek to make decisions.

Example of Inferences by which we draw Conclusions

Critical thinkers answer these questions by making sound presumption in their reasoning. Leaders must be aware of all of the logical implications and potential consequences of each potential decision.

Example of Assumptions

Critical thinkers begin with certain premises, but in reasoning through a problem, these premises can be reinforced, modified, or changed, based on this self-examination. Leaders help ensure their perspectives are balanced and fair by understating when judgements are based on unproven premises..

Significance

Critical thinkers concentrate on the most important information when reasoning through complex issues.

Example of understanding the question at hand.

Critical thinkers determine the importance of topic asked to be considered. They determine if what they are asking is answerable. And they are able to decide whether or not they understand the requirements for solving the problem. Effective leaders can probe to find the fundamental issues and precise things to ask.

Example of point of view.

Critical thinkers strive to adopt a way of looking at things that is fair to others, even those who hold opposing views. Effective leaders take multiple standpoints into consideration and don't allow their own standpoint to be "locked", allowing no inclusion of other ways of looking at things in their thinking.

Example of Data, Information and Evidence

Critical thinkers take all knowledge into account and then use the material in the most relevant way. Leaders should know if their material are accurate, clear, and fair. They should ask what facts is most important, and if sources are reliable.

All reasoning is done from some point of view.

Everyone reasons from a frame of reference. You may have a defect in your reference, if, for example, it is too narrow because of false or misleading information.

Example of Logic

Following a written test, cadets are given the opportunity to critique test questions they think are poor. A lot of the time cadets critique a question because they missed that particular question. When this happens, you as cadets must ask yourselves some hard questions (like the ones we just mentioned). Otherwise, your critique of the question will not be logical and your chance of getting credit for that test question has vanished.

Example of Fairness

Have you ever had someone approach you, feigning friendship, in order to get access to a valued item you own, like an iPod? The abuse of the concept of friendship to manipulate you is not fair in context, and you wouldn't want to be victimized in that way.

Example of Two Wrongs Make a Right.

He took my pen so I'm going to keep his pencil sharpener.

Example of Burden of Proof (a.k.a. Appeal to Ignorance)

I believe Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and aliens do exist because no one has proven they don't exist.

Example of Depth

If an A1C asks a superior what to do with a new part for a fighter and the response is, "Insert it into the engine," it may be clear, accurate, relevant, and somewhat precise, but it is actually superficial. The answer has more to it, such as where exactly should the part go in the engine, and how to connect or attach it.

Example of Band Wagon (a.k.a. Peer Pressure)

Joe is new to the area and doesn't know many people. He really wants to be friends with Mark and Steve. Mark and Steve go out drinking on a regular basis. Joe (who's 19 years-old) knows underage drinking is against the law, but to be a part of the crowd, he partakes in the illegal activity.

Example of Concepts and Ideas

Like trying to find a balance in your use of time to be physically fit and attain good grades, your critical thinking will assess whether and how these approachs are relevant in your life. You'll begin to assess the extent to which you are clear about these approachs in your life and whether your point of view is appropriate about them.

Example of Breadth

One roommate prefers rock music, the other classical. The question becomes what should one roommate do about playing favorite music when the other is there? If the first roommate is a "rocker" who understands and empathizes with the other roommate's preference, the first roommate's rock music won't be played, or played loudly, maybe, when the other is present, avoiding potential conflict. The first roommate here has thought broadly, and probably will receive the same understanding in return from the other.

All reasoning contains Inferences by which we draw Conclusion

Reasoning proceeds by steps. The mind perceives a situation or set of facts and comes to a conclusion based on the facts or presumptions.

Example of Accuracy

Someone gives a briefing to the CJCS that "the U.S. is capable of conducting three significant conflicts simultaneously." He would ask questions to ensure the validity before committing troops to a battle.

Example of Post Hoc Reasoning

Superstitions are great example. The basketball team was on a losing streak. One player wore a new set of colored shoelaces and the team won their next game. The shoelaces are regarded as a good luck charm.

Critical Thinking

The ability to assess and evaluate and issue in order to consistently achieve a greater understanding and judgement. It is a logical process toward decision making, employing the integration of intellectual standards and elements of reasoning.

the "what" and the "why." I believe <this> and I can explain how I got to this conclusion.

The critical thinking process considers...?

Guilt by Association.

This fallacy is based on the notion that what applies to one, applies to the whole. People don't want to be associated with people/groups they don't like and tend to make false assumptions about them. This would be the exact opposite of the Band Wagon fallacy.

All reasoning is an attempt to understand the question at hand.

This is the primary to ask when reasoning is employed. But critical thinkers go into this more deeply by asking whether or not, for example, this is the right thing to ask and whether other relevant topics need answering.

Band Wagon (a.k.a. Peer Pressure)

This type of fallacy changes the way you think based on the ideas of others and being accepted into a group.

Two Wrongs Make a Right.

This type of fallacy is based on justifying illogical arguments.

Burden of Proof (a.k.a. Appeal to Ignorance)

This type of fallacy occurs when an issue or argument is supported due to a lack of contradictory evidence.

Post Hoc Reasoning

This type of fallacy relies on effect-to-cause reasoning and commits the error of assuming that because one event preceded another, the first event must be the cause of the second. Simply put: A occurs before B; therefore, A is the cause of B.

Hasty Generalization.

This type of fallacy relies on reasoning, which over-generalizes based on insufficient evidence, usually because of a bias or prejudice.

The ability to assess your own reasoning.

What is the essence of critical thinking?

Logic

When the combination of thoughts is mutually supporting and makes sense in combination. When the combination is not mutually supporting, is contradictory in some sense, or does not "make sense."

All reasoning has a purpose

When you reason, it is to some end or objective. If your goal is unrealistic, your reasoning becomes weak.

Example of Clarity

You are attending a lecture on the Honor Code. The instructor explains an honor code violation, but you're still confused about what is or is not a violation. Ask the instructor to elaborate or give an example.

Example of Implications and Consequences

Your ability to reason well is measured, in part, by your ability to understand and enunciate the significance and repercussions of your reasoning. Leaders must think logically, to reason inductively and deductively, and to explain our decision both logically and clearly to others.

Critical listening

a way of maximizing the accurate understanding of what others are saying.

Critical reading

an active, intellectually engaged process in which the reader participates in an inner dialogue with the writer.

Critical writing

arranges our ideas in some relationships to each other in a disciplined manner.