WEBVTT

00:00:11.730 --> 00:00:14.210
Welcome back, everybody. It's five a .m. How

00:00:14.210 --> 00:00:16.769
is everybody doing? Yes, I know it's been over

00:00:16.769 --> 00:00:19.329
a week since my last podcast update, but a lot

00:00:19.329 --> 00:00:22.730
has been going on between me finding a new place

00:00:22.730 --> 00:00:25.969
to live. And on top of that, finals coming to

00:00:25.969 --> 00:00:28.969
a conclusion. Yes, I didn't cover any more information

00:00:28.969 --> 00:00:31.500
on study tips, but The basics that I covered

00:00:31.500 --> 00:00:34.880
is essentials that everybody needs. So I'm going

00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:37.960
to go ahead and cover something new within the

00:00:37.960 --> 00:00:40.939
realm of learning skills is still on the topic

00:00:40.939 --> 00:00:46.460
of study skills, critical thinking. Okay. So

00:00:46.460 --> 00:00:48.920
the question here is what is critical thinking?

00:00:49.320 --> 00:00:52.179
Well, let's think about that for a minute, shall

00:00:52.179 --> 00:00:53.899
we? Which is kind of the whole point of this

00:00:53.899 --> 00:00:57.340
podcast. Critical thinking is the ability to

00:00:57.340 --> 00:00:59.280
think clearly, rationally, and understanding

00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:02.820
the logical connection between ideas. It has

00:01:02.820 --> 00:01:05.879
been the subject of much debate and thought since

00:01:05.879 --> 00:01:08.200
the time of early Greek philosophers, you know,

00:01:08.299 --> 00:01:10.359
such as Plato and Socrates, and has continued

00:01:10.359 --> 00:01:12.359
to be a subject of discussion into the modern

00:01:12.359 --> 00:01:15.299
age. However, that doesn't mean that everyone

00:01:15.299 --> 00:01:20.299
is capable of doing this, so I digress. It might

00:01:20.299 --> 00:01:22.959
be described as the ability to engage in reflective

00:01:22.959 --> 00:01:26.159
and independent thinking, if you are capable

00:01:26.159 --> 00:01:29.079
of doing that, that is. In essence, critical

00:01:29.079 --> 00:01:30.959
thinking requires you to use your ability to

00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:34.879
reason. It is about being an active learner rather

00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:37.620
than a passive recipient of information. In other

00:01:37.620 --> 00:01:38.859
words, you don't just take in everything that

00:01:38.859 --> 00:01:41.540
you hear, you actually think about it. Critical

00:01:41.540 --> 00:01:44.659
thinkers rigorously question ideas and assumptions

00:01:44.659 --> 00:01:46.700
rather than accepting them at the face value.

00:01:47.290 --> 00:01:49.609
They will always seek to determine what the ideas

00:01:49.609 --> 00:01:52.290
arguments and findings represent the entire picture

00:01:52.290 --> 00:01:55.430
and are open to finding that they are often do

00:01:55.430 --> 00:02:00.590
not Critical thinking will identify and analyze

00:02:00.590 --> 00:02:03.129
and solve problems systematically rather than

00:02:03.129 --> 00:02:07.030
by intuition or instinct I'm sorry, but not all

00:02:07.030 --> 00:02:10.729
the time is intuition instinct the best thing

00:02:10.729 --> 00:02:16.919
that you can use Okay, so going into this Head

00:02:16.919 --> 00:02:19.080
first, someone with critical thinking can use

00:02:19.080 --> 00:02:21.699
the following skills. They can understand the

00:02:21.699 --> 00:02:24.039
links between ideas, determine the importance

00:02:24.039 --> 00:02:27.139
and relevance of arguments and ideas, recognize,

00:02:27.259 --> 00:02:30.919
build, and appraise arguments, identify inconsistencies

00:02:30.919 --> 00:02:33.740
and errors in reasoning, approach problems in

00:02:33.740 --> 00:02:37.659
a consistent systematic way, reflect on the justification

00:02:37.659 --> 00:02:40.219
of their own assumptions, beliefs, and values.

00:02:40.750 --> 00:02:44.069
In other words, critical thinking is about things

00:02:44.069 --> 00:02:47.389
in certain ways so as to arrive at the best possible

00:02:47.389 --> 00:02:49.610
solution in the circumstances that the thinker

00:02:49.610 --> 00:02:52.509
is aware of, or in a more everyday language,

00:02:52.710 --> 00:02:57.090
it is a way of thinking about whatever is presently

00:02:57.090 --> 00:02:59.289
occupying your mind so that you come to the best

00:02:59.289 --> 00:03:11.240
possible conclusion. Continuing where we left

00:03:11.240 --> 00:03:15.699
off, critical thinking is a way of thinking about

00:03:15.699 --> 00:03:17.840
particular things at a particular time. It is

00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:20.199
not the accumulation of facts and knowledge or

00:03:20.199 --> 00:03:23.219
something you can learn once and then use it

00:03:23.219 --> 00:03:26.319
in that form forever, such as the nine times

00:03:26.319 --> 00:03:28.599
table that you learned when you were in school.

00:03:29.659 --> 00:03:32.080
Okay? The skills we need for critical thinking

00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:35.639
are as follows. I'm gonna go ahead and cover

00:03:35.639 --> 00:03:38.099
as... Much as I can, I'm not going to go too

00:03:38.099 --> 00:03:41.039
in depth with them, as you already know. The

00:03:41.039 --> 00:03:43.180
skills that we need in order to be able to think

00:03:43.180 --> 00:03:46.180
critically are varied and include observation,

00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:49.759
analysis, interpretation, reflection, evaluation,

00:03:50.060 --> 00:03:53.479
interference, explanation, problem solving, and

00:03:53.479 --> 00:03:57.419
decision making. Specifically, you know, we need

00:03:57.419 --> 00:04:00.740
to be able to... How can I word this where it

00:04:00.740 --> 00:04:04.919
makes sense? Think about a topic or issue in

00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:07.000
an objective and critical way. I know I mentioned

00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:11.419
that before, but just follow me, okay? Identify

00:04:11.419 --> 00:04:13.300
the different arguments that are in relation

00:04:13.300 --> 00:04:16.600
to a particular issue. Evaluate a point of view

00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:19.699
to determine how strong or valid it is, okay?

00:04:19.860 --> 00:04:22.180
And then recognize any weaknesses or negative

00:04:22.180 --> 00:04:25.240
points that there are in the evidence or argument.

00:04:25.379 --> 00:04:28.120
This also works really well in the courtrooms.

00:04:28.969 --> 00:04:31.350
Notice what implications there might be behind

00:04:31.350 --> 00:04:33.930
a statement or argument. Provide structured reasoning

00:04:33.930 --> 00:04:36.410
and support for an argument that we wish to make.

00:04:37.769 --> 00:04:40.790
The critical thinking process isn't as complicated

00:04:40.790 --> 00:04:43.649
or convoluted as many other processes, but it's

00:04:43.649 --> 00:04:48.180
not as simple in the same regard. You should

00:04:48.180 --> 00:04:50.300
be aware that none of us think critically all

00:04:50.300 --> 00:04:52.920
the time, okay? Sometimes we think in almost

00:04:52.920 --> 00:04:55.899
any way but critically. For example, when our

00:04:55.899 --> 00:04:58.139
self -control is affected by anger, grief, or

00:04:58.139 --> 00:05:01.180
joy, or when we are feeling just plain bloody

00:05:01.180 --> 00:05:05.560
-minded, to put simply. On the other hand, the

00:05:05.560 --> 00:05:07.319
good news is that our critical thinking ability

00:05:07.319 --> 00:05:10.189
varies according to our current mindsets. most

00:05:10.189 --> 00:05:11.850
of the time we can learn to improve our critical

00:05:11.850 --> 00:05:13.910
thinking ability by developing certain routine

00:05:13.910 --> 00:05:16.730
activities and then applying them to all problems

00:05:16.730 --> 00:05:19.029
that present themselves once you understand the

00:05:19.029 --> 00:05:21.069
theory of critical thinking improving your critical

00:05:21.069 --> 00:05:23.550
thinking skills takes persistence and just practice

00:05:23.550 --> 00:05:29.310
so i mean just you know just think about it i

00:05:29.310 --> 00:05:33.250
got a couple of exercises here uh that might

00:05:33.250 --> 00:05:36.129
help you okay think of something that someone

00:05:36.129 --> 00:05:39.360
has recently told you Then ask yourself the following

00:05:39.360 --> 00:05:44.040
question, okay? Who said it? You know someone

00:05:44.040 --> 00:05:47.019
you know someone in a position of power or authority

00:05:47.019 --> 00:05:50.139
Doesn't matter who told you this these are thoughts

00:05:50.139 --> 00:05:53.500
to consider. You know, what did they say? Did

00:05:53.500 --> 00:05:55.699
they give facts or opinions? Did they provide

00:05:55.699 --> 00:05:58.360
all the facts or did they leave anything out?

00:05:58.779 --> 00:06:01.540
Where did they say it? Was it in public or private?

00:06:02.060 --> 00:06:04.240
Did the other person have a chance to respond

00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:07.350
and provide an alternative account? You know,

00:06:07.350 --> 00:06:10.050
when did they say it? Was it before, during,

00:06:10.250 --> 00:06:12.970
or after an important event? Is timing even all

00:06:12.970 --> 00:06:16.050
that important? Or why did they say it in the

00:06:16.050 --> 00:06:18.430
first place? Did they explain the reasoning behind

00:06:18.430 --> 00:06:21.089
their opinion? Were they trying to make someone

00:06:21.089 --> 00:06:24.069
else look good or bad? Or how about this one?

00:06:24.529 --> 00:06:27.110
How did they say it? Were they happy, sad, angry,

00:06:27.329 --> 00:06:28.750
indifferent? You're gonna hear this one a lot

00:06:28.750 --> 00:06:31.959
from the police. Uh, did they write it or say

00:06:31.959 --> 00:06:34.300
it? Could you understand what was being said?

00:06:34.500 --> 00:06:37.019
These are different viewpoints different ways

00:06:37.019 --> 00:06:40.959
to ask the quite the very same question But get

00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:44.639
more answers out of it It's very very effective

00:06:44.639 --> 00:07:00.399
in everyday life All right With those thoughts

00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:04.860
in mind, what are you aiming to achieve? Okay?

00:07:05.459 --> 00:07:07.620
I'm asking this on purpose because I want to

00:07:07.620 --> 00:07:10.339
know, you know, if you're even listening to this

00:07:10.339 --> 00:07:12.519
podcast in the first place on critical thinking,

00:07:13.560 --> 00:07:16.319
are you truly trying to decipher how to improve

00:07:16.319 --> 00:07:18.720
your skills or how to understand the people around

00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:21.480
you who ask these very same questions so you're

00:07:21.480 --> 00:07:24.740
not caught off guard? Well, regardless of the

00:07:24.740 --> 00:07:27.579
reasoning. You know one of the most important

00:07:27.579 --> 00:07:29.860
aspects of critical thinking is to decide what

00:07:29.860 --> 00:07:32.439
you're aiming to achieve And then make a decision

00:07:32.439 --> 00:07:34.600
based on a range of a possibility so even if

00:07:34.600 --> 00:07:36.959
you're not trying to improve it It will help

00:07:36.959 --> 00:07:41.480
you improve it indirectly Okay Once you have

00:07:41.480 --> 00:07:43.500
clarified that aim for yourself You should use

00:07:43.500 --> 00:07:45.819
it as a starting point in all future situations

00:07:45.819 --> 00:07:48.720
requiring thought and possibly further decision

00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:52.180
-making where needed, of course. Make your workmates,

00:07:52.839 --> 00:07:55.240
family, or those around you aware of your intention

00:07:55.240 --> 00:07:58.360
to pursue this goal. You must then discipline

00:07:58.360 --> 00:08:01.839
yourself to keep on track until changing circumstances

00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:04.600
means you have to revisit the start of the decision

00:08:04.600 --> 00:08:08.980
-making process again. However, There are things

00:08:08.980 --> 00:08:10.959
that get in the way of simple decision -making

00:08:10.959 --> 00:08:14.600
we all get carried away Or we all carry with

00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:17.459
us a range of likes and dislikes weren't behaviors

00:08:17.459 --> 00:08:20.279
personal preferences You know things that are

00:08:20.279 --> 00:08:22.240
developed throughout our lives They're all the

00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:24.720
hallmarks of being human of course, but you know

00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:27.759
a major contribution to ensuring we think critically

00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:30.300
is to be aware of these personal characteristics

00:08:30.300 --> 00:08:33.480
preferences and biases and make allowances for

00:08:33.480 --> 00:08:36.370
them were considering while still considering

00:08:36.370 --> 00:08:40.429
possible next steps, whether they are the pre

00:08:40.429 --> 00:08:42.870
-action consideration stage or a part of the

00:08:42.870 --> 00:08:46.470
rethink cause by unexpected or unforeseen impediments

00:08:46.470 --> 00:08:53.970
to continued progress of that sort. The more

00:08:53.970 --> 00:08:56.049
clearly we are aware of ourselves, our strengths

00:08:56.049 --> 00:08:57.889
and weaknesses, the more likely our critical

00:08:57.889 --> 00:09:00.809
thinking will be productive. Keep that in mind.

00:09:01.230 --> 00:09:03.990
And then there's the benefit of foresight. Perhaps

00:09:03.990 --> 00:09:06.029
the most important element of thinking critically

00:09:06.029 --> 00:09:08.850
is foresight. Almost all decisions we make and

00:09:08.850 --> 00:09:12.350
implement don't prove disastrous. They don't

00:09:12.350 --> 00:09:14.830
prove disastrous. If we find reasons to abandon

00:09:14.830 --> 00:09:18.049
them, however, our decisions making will be infinitely

00:09:18.049 --> 00:09:23.190
better and more likely lead to success. If, and

00:09:23.190 --> 00:09:26.730
only if, when we reach a tentative conclusion,

00:09:27.210 --> 00:09:29.009
we pause and consider the impact on the people

00:09:29.009 --> 00:09:32.850
and activities around us. The elements needing

00:09:32.850 --> 00:09:34.769
consideration are generally numerous and varied,

00:09:34.870 --> 00:09:37.590
and in many cases, consideration of one element

00:09:37.590 --> 00:09:40.610
from a different perspective will reveal potential

00:09:40.610 --> 00:09:43.730
dangers in pursuing our decision. For instance,

00:09:43.950 --> 00:09:45.889
moving a business activity to a new location

00:09:45.889 --> 00:09:49.190
may improve potential output considerably, but

00:09:49.190 --> 00:09:51.909
it also can lead to a loss of skilled workers

00:09:51.909 --> 00:09:55.169
if the distance moved is too great. Which of

00:09:55.169 --> 00:09:59.690
these is more important as a consideration? there's

00:09:59.690 --> 00:10:02.450
some way of lessening the conflict and these

00:10:02.450 --> 00:10:04.529
are thoughts that you have to consider you know

00:10:04.529 --> 00:10:06.309
these are the sort of problems that may arise

00:10:06.309 --> 00:10:09.149
for incomplete critical thinking a demonstration

00:10:09.149 --> 00:10:13.309
perhaps of critical thinking of the critical

00:10:13.309 --> 00:10:16.389
importance of good critical thinking are the

00:10:16.389 --> 00:10:40.169
other examples I just gave so yes So moving on

00:10:40.169 --> 00:10:44.090
in conclusion We're gonna go ahead and wrap this

00:10:44.090 --> 00:10:47.669
up Critical thinking is aimed at achieving the

00:10:47.669 --> 00:10:50.269
best possible outcome in a situation in order

00:10:50.269 --> 00:10:53.070
to achieve this It must involve gathering and

00:10:53.070 --> 00:10:55.190
evaluating information from as many different

00:10:55.190 --> 00:10:58.629
sources as possible Critical thinking requires

00:10:58.629 --> 00:11:01.429
a clear often uncomfortable assessment of your

00:11:01.429 --> 00:11:03.990
personal strengths weaknesses and preferences

00:11:03.990 --> 00:11:07.970
and their possible impact and decisions you make.

00:11:08.769 --> 00:11:10.549
Critical thinking requires the development and

00:11:10.549 --> 00:11:12.909
use of foresight as far as this is possible.

00:11:13.210 --> 00:11:15.129
Of course, I'm not telling you to look into the

00:11:15.129 --> 00:11:18.549
future. That's not possible. As Doris Day sang,

00:11:18.730 --> 00:11:21.210
the future is not ours to see. So keep that in

00:11:21.210 --> 00:11:25.470
mind. On that note, implementing the decisions

00:11:25.470 --> 00:11:27.649
made arising from critical thinking may take

00:11:27.649 --> 00:11:29.889
into account an assessment of possible outcomes

00:11:29.889 --> 00:11:33.350
and avoid and ways of avoiding potentially negative

00:11:33.350 --> 00:11:35.470
outcomes or at least lessening their impacts

00:11:35.470 --> 00:11:38.730
that are not as bad. With that being said, critical

00:11:38.730 --> 00:11:41.269
thinking involves reviewing the results of the

00:11:41.269 --> 00:11:43.269
application of decisions made and implementing

00:11:43.269 --> 00:11:49.450
change where possible. It might be thought that

00:11:49.450 --> 00:11:51.649
we are overextending our demands on critical

00:11:51.649 --> 00:11:54.889
thinking and expecting that it can help to construct

00:11:54.889 --> 00:11:58.210
focused meanings rather than examining the information

00:11:58.210 --> 00:12:00.309
given and the knowledge we have acquired to see

00:12:00.309 --> 00:12:03.490
if we can. If necessary, construct a meaning

00:12:03.490 --> 00:12:05.970
that will be acceptable and useful at least.

00:12:06.139 --> 00:12:09.259
Okay after all almost no information we have

00:12:09.259 --> 00:12:11.899
available to us either externally or internally

00:12:11.899 --> 00:12:17.860
carries any guarantee of its life or appropriateness.

00:12:18.059 --> 00:12:20.679
Neat step -by -step instructions may provide

00:12:20.679 --> 00:12:24.879
some sort of trellis or on which our basic understanding

00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:26.980
of critical thinking can blossom but it doesn't

00:12:26.980 --> 00:12:30.299
and cannot provide any assurance of certainty

00:12:30.299 --> 00:12:33.980
utility or longevity. So basically it's all you

00:12:33.980 --> 00:12:38.850
know dependent on you. With that being said that

00:12:38.850 --> 00:12:41.990
does leave two more topics to cover critical

00:12:41.990 --> 00:12:45.950
thinking and fake news Stuff that aren't isn't

00:12:45.950 --> 00:12:49.830
really important and critical reading Like I

00:12:49.830 --> 00:12:52.169
said before this is food for thought thoughts

00:12:52.169 --> 00:12:55.289
if it were you by neogen tricks If you have a

00:12:55.289 --> 00:12:58.110
topic something that you want me to cover Hit

00:12:58.110 --> 00:13:00.269
me up on my Facebook on my Instagram or here

00:13:00.269 --> 00:13:03.450
on anchor, and I'll definitely cover it Thank

00:13:03.450 --> 00:13:05.250
you for listening and have a great rest of your

00:13:05.250 --> 00:13:05.610
day