Concepts for Critical Thinking

• Courtesy of The Foundation for Critical Thinking.

Credo

Intellectual Standards

• Clarity
      Could you elaborate further?
      Could you give me an example?
      Could you illustrate what you mean?
• Accuracy
      How could we check on that?
      How could we find out if that is true?
      How could we verify or test that?
• Precision
      Could you be more specific?
      Could you give me more details?
      Could you be more exact?
• Relevance
      How does that relate to the problem?
      How does that bear on the question?
      How does that help us with the issue?
• Depth
      What factors make this a difficult problem?
      How does that bear on the question?
      How does that help us with the issue?
• Breadth
      Do we need to look at this from another perspective?
      Do we need to consider another point of view?
      Do we need to look at this in other ways?
• Logic
      Does all this make sense together?
      Does your first paragraph fit in with your last?
      Does what you say follow from the evidence?
• Significance
      Is this the most important problem to consider?
      Is this the central idea to focus on?
      Which of these facts are most important?
• Fairness
      Do I have any vested interest in this issue?
      Am I sympathetically representing the viewpoints of others?

Elements of Thought

• Purpose, Goal, Objective
      What am I trying to accomplish?
      What is my central purpose?
      What is the purpose of the reasoner?
      Is the purpose clearly stated?
      Is the purpose justified?
      Are related purposes explicitly distinguished?
      Is the content relevant to the purpose?
      Is the purpose realistic and significant?
• Questions, Problems, Issues
      What question am I raising?
      What question am I addressing?
      Am I considering the complexities in the question?
      Is the question clearly stated?
      Is the question unbiased?
      Is the question directly related to the purpose?
      Is the question deep enough for the issue?
      Is the fundamental question clearly stated?
      Are related questions distinguished?
      Are the questions significant?
      Are the requirements to satisfy the question clearly stated?
• Information, Data, Facts, Observations, Experiences
      What information am I using in coming to that conclusion?
      What experience have I had to support this claim?
      What information do I need to settle the question?
      Is the information relevant and essential to the purpose and question being addressed?
      Is the information accurate?
      Does the information address the complexity of the issue?
      Is the information clearly stated?
      Does the information settle the issue?
      Is contrary or contradictory information explained?
• Inferences, Conclusions, Interpretation, Solution
      How did I reach this conclusion?
      Is there another way to interpret the information?
      Is the line of reasoning clear and logical?
      Is the conclusion relevant to the key issue?
      Does the conclusion go beyond the supporting data?
      Are conclusions consistent with the data and do they explain contrary or discrepant data?
      Is how the conclusion settles the issue clearly stated?
• Concepts, Theories, Laws, Principles
      What is the main idea here?
      Can I explain this idea?
      Are the concepts clearly stated?
      Are the concepts used justifiably?
      Is each concept significant to the issue?
• Assumptions
      What am I taking for granted?
      What assumption has led me to that conclusion?
      Are the assumptions clearly stated?
      Are the assumptions dubious?
      What is the impact of the assumptions?
      Is it clear how each assumption shapes the approach to the issue?
• Implications, Consequences
      If someone accepted my position, what would be the implications?
      What am I implying?
      What is the consequence of this reasoning?
      What positive and negative implications follow from the research?
      Are there missing implications?
• Points of View, Frame of Reference
      From what point of view am I looking at this issue?
      Are there other points of view?
      Is each point of view clearly and accurately stated?
      What is the justification for including or excluding each point of view?
      Are objections from each point of view fairly addressed?

Intelectual Traits

• Humility
      Insight into the limitations of one's knowledge.
• Courage
      Facing all the issues, especially those that are contrary to one's beliefs.
• Empathy
      Ability to imagine another's point of view.
• Autonomy
      Thinking for yourself rather than blindly conforming.
• Integrity
      Applying the same set of standards to one's self as one applies to others.
• Perseverance
      Adhering to rational analysis even when faced with difficulty.
• Confidence in Reason
      Allowing others free reign to draw their own reasoned conclusions.
• Fair-mindedness
      Adhering to intellectual standards even when considering another's point of view conflicts with one's vested interests.

Checklist for Reasoning

1. All reasoning has a purpose.
   • State your purpose clearly.
   • Distinguish your purpose from related purposes.
   • Check periodically to be sure you are still on target.
   • Choose significant and realistic purposes.
2. All reasoning is an attempt to solve a problem or settle a question.
   • State the question at issue clearly and precisely.
   • Express the question in several ways to clarify its meaning and scope.
   • Break the question into sub-questions.
   • Distinguish questions that have definitive answers from those that are a matter of opinion and from those that require consideration of multiple viewpoints.
3. All reasoning is based on assumptions.
   • Clearly identify your assumptions and determine whether they are justifiable.
   • Consider how your assumptions are shaping your point of view.
4. All reasoning is done from some point of view.
   • Identify your point of view, its strengths and weaknesses.
   • Seek other points of view and identify their strengths and weaknesses.
   • Strive to be fair-minded in evaluating all points of view.
5. All reasoning is based on data, information and evidence.
   • Restrict your claims to those supported by the data you have.
   • Search for information that opposes your position as well as information that supports it.
   • Make sure that all information used is clear, accurate, and relevant to the question at issue.
   • Make sure you have gathered sufficient information.
6. All reasoning is expressed through and shaped by concepts and ideas.
   • Identify key concepts and explain them clearly.
   • Consider alternative concepts or alternative definitions of concepts.
   • Make sure you are using concepts with care and precision.
7. All reasoning contains inferences or interpretations by which we draw conclusions and give meaning to data.
   • Infer only what the evidence implies.
   • Check inferences for their consistency with each other.
   • Identify assumptions that lead you to your inferences.
8. All reasoning has implications and consequences.
   • Trace the implications and consequences that follow from your reasoning.
   • Search for negative as well as positive implications.
   • Consider all possible consequences.

Relationship between Standards, Elements, and Traits