Critical
Thinking is the process of applying a certain thinking process as a model in
order to reach a decision about the best way to handle something or the best
way to achieve a goal. I think critical
thinking is important, especially when you are faced with difficult or
important decisions. It is very easy to
think with your emotions or your heart, and that sometimes will not lead you to
making informed decisions. When you let
your emotions rule your decisions, they are more of a rushed decision and not a
well thought out one. In my experience
these decisions tend not to be the best ones you make.
With
critical thinking you will take the time to use facts, and take the time to
interpret the relevant information that you have. You should be evaluating the data that you
have and consider the options, or the ramifications of the decision you
make. You should be asking yourself
questions, and comparing the answers to your long term goals. This will assist with your thinking and
decision making process.
I
believe that there are definite situations, and they may depend on their
importance to you, when critical thinking is necessary. Many things in life require a lot of thought
and soul searching in order for you to achieve your goals. You should be tin inking with your long term
goals in mind. This also involves persistence
and motivation to achieve and will take some work to learn how to carefully and
thoroughly take into account the different phases of thinking something
through.
This
applies to college because you need to decide where you want to be or what you
want to do with your future, and what the best way to get there is. You have to evaluate how much time and effort
you are putting into your classes, and compare that to your grades. Is what you
are doing enough to achieve your long term goals? This is definably an example of delayed
gratification. You may not see all the results immediately, but to be able to
use critical thinking to achieve your future goals, will definably make for a better
future for yourself.
“Critical thinking can be seen as having two components: 1) a set
of information and belief generating and processing skills, and 2) the habit,
based on intellectual commitment, of using those skills to guide behavior. It
is thus to be contrasted with: 1) the mere acquisition and retention of
information alone, because it involves a particular way in which information is
sought and treated; 2) the mere possession of a set of skills, because it
involves the continual use of them; and 3) the mere use of those skills
("as an exercise") without acceptance of their results.”
Cited
From: http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/defining-critical-thinking/410
