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On Critical Thinking
The focus of skills over knowledge
Considering the K-12 system, we see that the emphasis on skills over content has changed the curriculum. Students increasingly focus on learning skills, but they may not learn too much history or science.
Critical thinking is not enough on its own. It needs to be used to gain insight from studying meaningful subject matter, like history or economics or physics or chemistry.
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Critical thinkers need the knowledge first
Employers need critical thinkers, but they cannot find them.
Focussing on knowledge only in college does not seem to help. Neither does it help to only focus on intellectual and cognitive skills.
Critical thinking is learning how to use knowledge.
The focus of skills over knowledge
Considering the K-12 system, we see that the emphasis on skills over content has changed the curriculum. Students increasingly focus on learning skills, but they may not learn too much history or science.
Critical thinking is not enough on its own. It needs to be used to gain insight from studying meaningful subject matter, like history or economics or physics or chemistry.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is a disciplined activity. It is not something we can acquire without intensive study and practice, nor can we isolate it from knowledge. Knowledge is foundational to provide the structure to do deep thinking.
Only with some background knowledge, can we apply the skills of critical thinking to problems and texts, understand the strengths and weaknesses of arguments, and offer creative solutions.
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Problems with the Work Ethic
- For centuries, the promise of America has been built on the work ethic, with everyone aspiring to have a job that pays them.
- Work Ethic as it is has not provided any social, moral or s...
The Unfulfilled Promise of Work
What working a decent job means is slowing losing ground, as we are not deriving meaning from our work.
Having a job means getting paid for our talents, but it may not be the case for many. Work ethic is supposed to provide us a good life, but in reality, the opposite is happening.
Following The Orders
Most workers rely on the whims and fancies of the so-called 'Job Creators', a class of people who own a business and can employ staff. Job creators hold power on the worker's time, behavior and conditions of employment.
These employers also monitor and sanction what workers post on social media, what they eat or drink, how frequently and for how long are they going to the bathroom, and what are their political leanings.
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Six levels of critical thinkers
Researchers identified six predictable levels of critical thinkers:
- The unreflective thinker
- The challenged thinker
- The beginner thinker
- The practicing think...
The Unreflective Thinker
These are people who don't reflect on thinking nor consider the consequences of not thinking. Their prejudices and misconceptions lead them.
They do not consistently apply standards like accuracy, relevance, precision, and logic.
The Challenged Thinker
People at this intellectual stage are aware of the importance of thinking and know that the lack of thinking can result in major issues.
- They acknowledge that their own mental processes might have many flaws but are unable to identify all the weaknesses.
- They may spot some instances of their own self-deception.
- They may have a sense that proper thinking involves navigating assumptions, inferences, and points of view, but only on a basic level.
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72% of employers
...feel that critical thinking is key to their organization’s success.
But only half of those surveyed said their employees actually show this skill.
Traits employers seek in critical thinkers
- They read between the lines: they cross-examine evidence and logical argument;
- They dig deeper;
- They're skeptical: they don't jump on the first good idea they find;
- They come prepared: they know that real problems occur and are agile enough to find ways to solve them creatively.