CRITICAL THINKING

I find that critical thinking, at its core, is the process of incorporating philosophy into our personal and professional lives. From the Socratic method, to the scientific method, philosophy is the foundation of critical thought. When thinking critically, one must observe the situation, define the context of the situation (i.e. historical, political, economic, and cultural), define the factors involved in the situation (this includes ones implicit bias and positionality), and attempt to make an objective analysis of the subject matter. Only after reasonably defining the factors involved can one then go on to evaluate it subjectively. 

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I believe that logic and reason are the pillars of critical thinking, and are sufficient in process oriented analysis. I believe that emotion plays a role in more nuanced analysis that has to do with interpersonal dynamics. Emotion has the potential to overtake one’s senses and skew analysis. However an emotional response is a unique response that can be used as a sensor. If there is something that is unjust, inefficient, or simply a bad fit, chances are that we will have an emotional response to it. From there, we can begin the process of thinking critically, and hopefully produce an alternative option or solution to resolve the discomfort arising from the situation.

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