Decision Making and Critical Thinking

The Study of Reasoning and Critical Thinking

The study of reasoning is known as critical thinking. This study is significant in realizing that in order to grow and become better thinkers, our skills must be honed, and our thinking must be developed and exercised in the same way that any other skill is acquired in life. As a result, this study will assess how critical thinkers use intellectual standards in reasoning, correcting fallacies, and making reflexive and reflective decisions. The paper will also look at how the critical thinker might use their critical thinking skills to help them make decisions. Finally, the study will discuss when it is preferable to employ reflexive and reflective decision making. How Critical Thinkers Use Intellectual Standards To Evaluate Information

Understanding Critical Thinking

All the people on earth think and it is their nature to do so. But much of the human thinking when left t itself is downright prejudiced, uninformed, partial, distorted and biased. If people aim at thinking well then the have to understand the rudiment of the through itself; that is the most basic structure by which the thought is made. People ought to learn how to make the thought apart. Critical thinking is simply to control one’s thinking. It entails the ability consciously evaluate the elements of one’s reasoning against the intellectual standards-logic, breadth, depth, relevance, precision, accuracy and clarity. Critical thinking is applied on a daily basis to help solve problems and understand the nature of our action. These skills are used in mapping out the best route that can be taken.

Evaluating Information and Questioning Conclusions

So as to evaluate the quality of information, critical thinkers do just accept simple conclusions, theories, and ideas. They have a mindset of questioning conclusions and ideas. Critical thinking helps in making judgments that are based on logic and also well thought about after the support theories and evidence has been assessed. It is critical thinking that helps people to evaluate and even improves their ideas. Through critical thinking then it becomes possible to determine whether any piece of information is false, partially true or true. This is an essential tool by which one can come up with a conclusion that conclusion arrived at after a reasoned process (Epstein, Rooney & Raffi, 2013).

Recognizing Reasoning Fallacies

Critical thinking enables people to in a rational manner about what they anticipate to do. Critical thinking allows a person to engage in an independent and even reflective form of thinking. An in individual who has with these crucial skills is able to: identify the most important ideas and solve the emerging problemees in a more systematic manners and even detect common and inconsistent mistakes in reasoning (“Fallacies”, 2017). So as to limit the numerous fallacies that exist in reasoning critical thinking ensures that the premises are true so that the conclusion can also be reliable. It is possible to break down an argument into distinct components so that they can be examined for their validity. This is the best way of sharpening the individual thinking so as to make an effective argument and avoid biases.

Using Reflexive and Reflective Decision Making

Reflective thinking is the careful, persistent and active of the supposed form of knowledge or belief of the ground that supports knowledge and conclusions to which the knowledge leads. While the reflexive decision making involves critical meditation and contemplation examination of problems before coming about with an informed decision (Paul & Elder, 2014). Because of critical thinking then information can be gathered, analyzed and evaluated. This is one of the most vital parts of the problem-solving since it is the process of clearly thinking through the numerous options that make it possible to come up with the best choice. Critical thinking aids in determining whether a given choice is sound. Critical thinking governs reflective and reflexive decision making since people can be able to see the direct relationship between effect and cause. This is an important part of the decision-making process as accurate predictions about what kind of impact the final solution will have been known.

The Importance of Critical and Creative Thinking In Decision Making

Critical thinking is simply the art of controlling an individual process of thinking so that the inputs and the pathway that the thinking employs are understood. Those people who think critically understand the reasoning mechanics. They use this vital skill to understand the unconscious influences that in many cases contribute to the form of decisions they make. By taking charge in the overall thinking process, critical thinkers come up with the best methods of doing things as well as making decisions. To become a critical thinker then one has to be an effective critic of personal thinking. This will involve making a thorough evaluation of all the inputs (biases, assumptions, and decisions) that emanate from reasoning. A critical thinker in many cases will gauge and measure the input of the thinking of other which will, in turn, improve their decision-making skills (Martinez de Castillo, 2010).

The Best Time To Use Reflexive And Reflective Decision Making

Reflexive decision making is used in situations where the decision demands quick response action. Such a situation requires quicker for thought. This method is adopted in situations when the needs for the quick environment are evaluated. On the other hand, the reflective decision takes some time to formulate. This decision-making criterion demands that a reflection must be made beyond the time that is typically required. Reflective decision making is used to handle the complex issues that need more time and research.

Conclusion

Critical thinking is understanding involves understanding the influence (bias) and inputs (data) to the reasoning process. This is a systematic analysis of a person reasoning. This is an essential process because it enables one to take control of our thinking rather than letting ourselves become hijacked by bias, assumptions, mindset, and convenience. Those people who think critically can able to think with the best precision and clarity. They can approach different situations and problems in a manner that allows a balanced analysis. Thinking critically entails first understanding a given situation before coming up with any deductions and conclusion.

References

Epstein, R., Rooney, M., & Raffi, A. (2013). Critical thinking (1st ed.). Socorro, NM: Advanced Reasoning Forum.

Fallacies. (2017). The Writing Center at UNC-Chapel Hill. Retrieved 6 June 2017, from http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/fallacies/

Martinez de Castillo, S. (2010). Strategies, techniques, & approaches to thinking (1st ed.). Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders.

Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2014). Critical Thinking Concepts & Tools (7th ed.). Foundation for Critical Thinking.