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Critical thinking: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Athena-2.png|alt=|left|thumb|160x160px|Athena, godess of wisdom]] | [[File:Athena-2.png|alt=|left|thumb|160x160px|Athena, godess of wisdom]] | ||
[[File:Thinker-2.png|left|alt=|thumb|Rodin's thinker]]Critical thinking implies the adoption of principles that are effective when addressing situations of complex uncertainty, i.e. situations that may involve: competing goals; high levels of risk; technical, environmental and societal issues. | [[File:Thinker-2.png|left|alt=|thumb|Rodin's thinker]]''Critical thinking'' implies the adoption of principles that are effective when addressing situations of complex uncertainty, i.e. situations that may involve: competing goals; high levels of risk; technical, environmental and societal issues. | ||
It is concerned with ''ethos'' i.e. the principles that guide actions. | It is concerned with ''ethos'' i.e. the principles that guide actions. | ||
Critical thinkers discipline their minds to reduce the risk of unsatisfactory outcomes. | Critical thinkers discipline their minds to reduce the risk of unsatisfactory outcomes. | ||
'''Guiding principles''' | '''Guiding principles''' | ||
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*Think for yourself but not by yourself. | *Think for yourself but not by yourself. | ||
*Adopt a system approach: consider the system as a whole as well as its parts. | *Adopt a system approach: consider the system as a whole as well as its parts. | ||
*Adopt a holistic approach: take account of all relevant issues. | * Adopt a holistic approach: take account of all relevant issues. | ||
*Be humble, be prepared to change your mind. | *Be humble, be prepared to change your mind. | ||
*Learn from successes and from failures. | *Learn from successes and from failures. | ||
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'''Seek to:''' | '''Seek to:''' | ||
*embrace integrity without question: honest, trustworthy, reliable, | *embrace integrity without question: honest, trustworthy, reliable, | ||
*be open, friendly, respectful | *be open, friendly, respectful | ||
*be committed | *be committed | ||
*be collaborative, inclusive | * be collaborative, inclusive | ||
*be dispassionate about outcomes | * be dispassionate about outcomes | ||
'''Avoid being:''' | '''Avoid being:''' | ||
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*deferential | *deferential | ||
=== Proposal testing === | ===Proposal testing=== | ||
An appropriate amount of resouce should be allocated to testing of proposals for action. The amount of resource should be proportional to level of risk of negative outcomes. | An appropriate amount of resouce should be allocated to testing of proposals for action. The amount of resource should be proportional to level of risk of negative outcomes. | ||
Before accepting a proposal it should be tested: | Before accepting a proposal it should be tested: | ||
* taking account of all requirements, both objectives and constraints, addressing the complexity | *taking account of all requirements, both objectives and constraints, addressing the complexity | ||
* against other proposals | *against other proposals | ||
* using the most appropriate testing methods for the context | *using the most appropriate testing methods for the context | ||
* by a multidisciplinary team, if that is needed | *by a multidisciplinary team, if that is needed | ||
* by being open-minded, sceptical, not relying on intuition, avoiding bias | *by being open-minded, sceptical, not relying on intuition, avoiding bias | ||
* using reliable evidence and logic to the limits of their potential | *using reliable evidence and logic to the limits of their potential | ||
===Learning for critical thinking=== | ===Learning for critical thinking=== | ||
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*Be a student of crtitical thinking. Collect guiding principles. Write them down,memorise and use them. | *Be a student of crtitical thinking. Collect guiding principles. Write them down,memorise and use them. | ||
*Watch how other people operate and identify the principles that guide them to be successful. Discuss the issues with them. Add their good ideas to your list of principles. | *Watch how other people operate and identify the principles that guide them to be successful. Discuss the issues with them. Add their good ideas to your list of principles. | ||
*Read about contexts where critical thinking was needed to identify principles | * Read about contexts where critical thinking was needed to identify principles | ||
*Identify the reasons for people to be unsuccessful. Actively avoid copying them. | *Identify the reasons for people to be unsuccessful. Actively avoid copying them. | ||
*Remember that some guiding principles are context specific. You are not using a set of fixed rules that result in success. You need to use critical thinking about your critical thinking strategies. | * Remember that some guiding principles are context specific. You are not using a set of fixed rules that result in success. You need to use critical thinking about your critical thinking strategies. | ||
*If you have a [[leadership]] role, work with your colleagues to develop the principles under which the team will operate. | *If you have a [[leadership]] role, work with your colleagues to develop the principles under which the team will operate. | ||
* | * | ||