The Elements of Thought and the Right Questions
When we compare the “elements of thought” and the “Right Questions” we can see many similarities. Beyond the fact they are both methods for approaching critical thinking each of these systems use a series of questions in order to obtain the information we seek. I will compare these two methods in order to highlight some of these similarities.
When asking the “right questions” the first question we as is “What are the Issue and the Conclusion?” Now this seems pretty straightforward. However, if we take a deeper look we will find that it’s often much harder to find the actual issue at hand, and consequently the conclusion to that issue. In comparison we look at three questions of the “elements of thought”. “What is the most basic concept in the question?”, “What are my most fundamental inferences, or conclusions?”, and “What is the key question I am trying to answer?” We’ll start with “what is the most basic concept in the question?” When we find the most basic concept of the question we are discovering the true issue. Now let’s take a look at the second part. In addition to asking ourselves why we are thinking we ask ourselves “What are my most fundamental inferences or conclusions?” In this step we are actively searching for the conclusions, or inferences, that we reach based off of the assumptions that are implied by the situation. The last question is “What is the key question I am trying to answer?” By doing this we look deeper into the question to find the heart of the matter, and in doing so discover the true issue at hand, and many times revealing the conclusion as well.
“What are the reasons?” This is the second question that we ask ourselves when asking the “Right questi...
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...g?” helps us to explore the many outcomes, or conclusions that may be possible if all of our assumptions are correct, and our point of view is accurate. Furthermore, we also evaluate these conclusions to see what kind of impact, if any, each of them would bring to the situation at hand. Much the same way that we examine the many possible conclusions by applying the “Right Questions” method, and asking ourselves “What reasonable conclusions are possible?”
Comparing these two methods we have learned that they are similar, regardless of how they appear on the surface. The similarities are often in the application of the questions, if done properly, more so than in the actual order of the steps, or even in the questions themselves. Nonetheless they are unmistakably akin in the fact that each requires the same type and depth of analysis in order to properly apply them.
Vaughn, L. (2013). The power of critical thinking. (4th ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University
Enduring Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking and Argument, with Readings. 5th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 1998. 475-479.
When I sat on the floor for 10 minutes, facing the corner, and talking to no one, while groaning. It felt weird because I could sense people glaring at me, and I could predict, what they are probably saying. They would probably think I am crazy or have some mental issue because of the way I am behaving. It also felt very lonely because I wasn’t able to talk to anyone, and that’s when I started to think deeply about something. During the 10 minutes, the time seems to go slower, especially when you are thinking deeply. 5 minutes in real life seemed like 30 minutes, when I was in the corner. I learned that caring for Christopher must have been hard for the parents, and it is understandable that time to time, the parents could lose their temper.
Skepticisms arise when we think there is no enough reason or good reason to accept certain facts. In fact, this actually helps us to stop and think about whether what we think of as the truth is actually true or false, and this also helps us to question certain things that we take for granted. This may be a good thing but on the other side there is no guarantee that we will come up with better answers than the previous ones by constant questioning. Take the example of a child, when one talks with a very young child with full of curiosity, the child often asks a question and, even after their questions are addressed, the child still asks “why” to the answers given. The Why Conversation goes on until the person answering the questions gets annoyed or ends it with a statement that lacks explanation. Therefore, the conversation often ends when the person reaches a point where he can no longer answer the questions. As seen above, skepticism can be illustrated in the “Why Conversation.”, which substantiates the assumptions in the title. Consequently, this essay will attempt to investigate how skepticism can work as a tool to broaden or limit our knowledge.
Introduction Critical thinking provides an opportunity to explore the positive and negative sides of an argument for and against an idea, theory, or notion. Reasoning and perception is attuned to personal impression and provides outcome to belief and opinion. The dictionary term and understanding for the word ‘logic’ is “of sound thinking and proof by reasoning” (Merriam-Webster, 2009). Logic is the examination of the methods and doctrine used to determine ‘correct’ from ‘incorrect’ and is used in the structure of an argument.
Dr. Gerald M. Nosich, an expert in critical thinking, wrote a book titled, “Learning to Think Things Through,” for his readers to understand and enhance their analytical skills. In the book, Nosich discussed the eight elements of reasoning including two additional elements: Purpose, Question at Issue, Assumptions, Implications and Consequences, Information, Concepts, Conclusions/Interpretation, Point of View, and Alternatives and Context (two additional elements). These elements help sort through our reasoning process so that we can make reasonable decisions. As a kid, I did not fully understand nor used any critical thinking skills, which led me to make some unreasonable mistakes.
Questions are something that must be asked and can be very important when reading a literary work, watching a movie, or just simply trying to understand the habits of people today. Asking questions opens up the human brain to dig farther and deeper into the meaning of why someone did something in a specific way and what purpose it has that something must be done in that way. Critical thinking is asking question and trying to hypothesize on what the answer to that question might be. Critically thinking is a healthy aspect of opening up the brain and will improve one’s thought process on how to apply critical thinking in situations where it is dependent, like a future
Critical thinking is a significant and essential topic in recent education. The strategy of critical thinking skills helps identify areas in one's courses as the suitable place to highlight, expand and use some problems in exams that test students' critical thinking skills.
Critical thinking is the careful scrutiny of what is stated as true or what appears to be true and the resulting expression of an opinion or conclusion based on that scrutiny, and (2) the creative formulation of an opinion or conclusion when presented with a question, problem or issue, (Kist-Ashman, 2011, p. 33).
What is not easily recognized is the fact that the very fabric of life is dependent on the ability to think properly and make good decisions. Improper thinking is costly in the quality of life and monetarily. The result of a critical thinker that has worked to cultivate proper thinking skills includes: the ability to ask vital questions and to identify problems with clarity. A critical thinker also collects relevant information while effectively interpreting it, thinks with an open mind, uses alternative systems of thought, and understands how to communicate while working to formulate a strong solution. In summary, critical thinking is self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking. Above all else, the standards of excellence are rigorous, and it entails the prospect of overcoming the challenge of sociocentrism and
Knowledge is generated through critical and creative thinking. Creative thinking is something new or original that is created with value. Critical thinking is a type of thinking that questions assumptions and validates or invalidates a current belief or something that is said to be previously true. Knowledge is created through the culmination of generally accepted assumptions and creativity. How do you separate general assumptions and creativity? These two types of thinking can be easily separated in regards to concrete or realistic ideas compared to abstract or original ideas however to generate new, acceptable knowledge critical and creative thinking must interact together. The questioning of established beliefs with the creation of unorthodox new ideas will expose the most beneficial knowledge for the world.
question with reasoning, in an attempt to find a universal set of rules, or a
2. Richard, Paul “Critical Thinking: Basic Theory and Instructions Structures,” Foundations for Critical Thinking. 1977. P
Critical thinking regularly involves the capability to interpret information and make knowledgeable decisions based on such information. Additionally, problem solving is frequently theorised as the use of critical thinking skills towards the effective solution of a specific problem or towards a specific end goal. Critical thinking is the disciplined art of ensuring that you use the best thinking you are capable of in any set of circumstances. The general goal of thinking is to figure out some situation” (Critical Thinking, 2001, p.1), solve some problem, answer some questions, or resolve some issue. It also is a process in which a person pursuits reliable and pertinent information about the world. Critical thinking is often described as reasonable, ruminative, trustworthy, and a well-practiced form of thinking that assists people with deciding what they should believe in and what actions should be taken. A practiced critical thinker will ask good questions, collects pertinent data, categorizes common characteristics, logically reasons with the new data and then he or she will come to a trustworthy and dependable conclusion. Critical thinking makes use of many processes and procedures. Some processes include but is not limited to asking questions, making judgments, and identifying
Plato is one of the most important people in the history of Philosophy. Throughout his life, he had made many contributions to the world of philosophy, but the most important contribution that he is most known for is his theory of the Ideas or Forms. Throughout his many works such as the Phaedo and Symposium, he presented his theory of Ideas by using both mythos and logos in his argument for support.