The Elements of Critical Thinking

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Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skilfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing and/or evaluating information gathered from or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action. (Foundation for Critical Thinking, 2011) Critical thinking consists of elements such as reasoning and intellectual standards that enable logical analysis to take place thus leading to impartial conclusions. It is through applying intellectual standards to reasoning however that critical thinking can take place.

The elements of reasoning play an important role in critical thinking. The element of reasoning is important in that it helps to develop objectives. This means that in reasoning a problem can be solved as there is a goal or purpose that needs to be fulfilled. Critical thinking entails assessing data and it is through this that reasoning takes place because it allows for a logical conclusion to be made which can be seen as the goal or objective. It is crucial though, that intellec...

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