Critical Thinking and Society

Critical Thinking and Society Exercise

There are a number of situations critical thinking can be applied--for example: my son is in Kindergarten, I can see that he uses the critical thinking process as he evaluated the plot of the books I read to him nightly, he identifies the motives of the characters and anticipates what is on the next page. My younger son uses thinks critically as he strategically argues with me on reasons to let him go outside and play after he has already taken his bath and is dressed in his pajamas. I utilize critical thinking as I carefully count my calories and watch my exercise patterns while following a running program to prepare for marathons. Critical thinking is most often described as having an open mind. When individuals maintain an open mind, it allows them to make clear decisions, work better as a team, and complete tasks more effectively.

When we apply any logic or reasoning to unfamiliar situations, opinions or ideas, we are critically thinking. Critical thinking is not only seeing things with an open mind, it is seeing and investigating those same situations, opinions and ideas in as many different angles as possible. This is a skill that will allow you to look beyond your own situations, opinions and ideas and open your eyes to others opinions and ideas in those same situations.

Free will-- According to Ruggiero (2009),"capacity to respond in ways that oppose even the strongest influences."

Opinion--opinion is a personal judgment or belief (Ruggiero, 2009).

Truth--truth is relative because truth is constantly changing (Ruggiero, 2009).

Knowledge--knowledge is having the factual truth.

Free will, opinion, truth and knowledge all play a role in the critical thinking process, they will influence and develop decision making, debating and critical thinking. Some individual decisions, truths, opinions and personal knowledge will enhance your thinking and others my hinder it (Ruggiero, 2009).

Mine-is-better, face saving and resistance to change are three issues that can hinder our ability to think critically. Mine-is-better--this issue is natural to all of us, it starts out in the early development as a child--it is the tendency to think that what we possess including our opinions, ideas, values, groups, religious beliefs and political positions are better than anyone else. This will hinder our ability to accept new ideas, thoughts or processes in work or life that can simply make life easier. Overcoming this takes practice and we must lose our ego in the process (Ruggiero, 2009).

Very much like the mine-is-better hindrance, saving face is a natural tendency and occurs after we have done or said something that threatens our self-image or the image of our peers. In order to "control your face-saving