Value of Critical Thinking

Value of Critical Thinking

Why is Critical Thinking of Value?
You can answer—why of value to you?
What’s value of cognitive skills?
What’s value of the critical spirit?
Would these mean more success at what you do?
Would it mean better grades for students?
Grades – Yes!
1,100 college students
Significant correlation between Critical Thinking scores & college GPA
Critical Thinking skills can be learned
Significant correlation between Critical Thinking and reading comprehension
Main Purpose of College Experience
Achievement of liberal (liberated) education. It’s about
Learning to learn
Learning to think for one’s self
Leads away from naïve acceptance of authority
Leads above self-defeating relativism
Beyond ambiguous contextualism
Culminates in principled, reflective judgment
All of Us Need Critical Thinking and Thinkers
Critical Thinking is fundamental, if not essential for, “a rational and democratic” society
Electorate
Judiciary
International commerce
Business and civic leaders maybe more interested in Critical Thinking than even educators
Necessary condition for the success of democratic institutions and free market society