"Ignorance and despotism seem made for each other." Thomas Jefferson
Critical thinking skills have multiple purposes:
- Identifying bias
- Evaluating premises and conclusions
- Comparing and contrasting
- Synthesizing
- Identifying assumptions
- Ascertaining purpose
- Determining consequences
- Solving problems
- Determining effects
- Distinguishing between fact/truth and artificial constructs
- Encouraging independent thinking
- Engendering creative thinking
- Promoting rational decision-making
- Detecting fallacies
Critical thinking increases intellectual honesty
In the Sciences, critical thinking skills are essential. Formulating a hypothesis, for example, requires objective thought. In the Social Sciences and Humanities, many courses require analysis. For example, writing an Argumentative paper for an English course calls for the ability to view an issue from at least two sides. Many other courses--Political Science, Philosophy, Mass Communication, Sociology, Journalism, and Criminal Justice--to name a few, require students to ask questions and evaluate statements. Critical thinking is interdisciplinary and cross-curricular.
A major benefit of acquiring critical thinking skills is the ability to evaluate information presented in all forms of media, especially online information.
