2.1.3. An Ideal Critical Thinker
Although the above-discussed definitions and sets critical thinking characteristics emphasize the abilities or skills that one should exhibit as requirements for critical thought, a person still needs to possess certain dispositions (Ennis 1985 as cited in Paul et al. 1997, Bailin et al. 1999). Having dispositions here is referred to being willing, motivated or committed to thinking critically (Paul et al. 1997) as well as displaying ‘critical spirit’ (Passmore 1967 as cited in Bailin et al. 1999: 294, Siegel 1980 as cited in Paul et al. 1997: 13). These dispositions were tackled by various educators and thus can be described differently. Paul et al. (1997), for example, call them values still agreeing …show more content…
(1999) outline the most, in their opinion, important characteristics of a critical thinker represented below in Table 1.
Table 1. Characteristics of a critical thinker
Characteristic Interpretation respect for reasons and truth commitment to having justified beliefs, values and actions respect for high-quality products and performances appreciation of good design and effective performance an inquiring attitude inclination to assess the support for judgements one is asked to accept open-mindedness disposition to withhold judgement and seek new evidence or points of view when existing evidence is inadequate or contentious, and willingness to revise one’s view should the evidence warrant it fair-mindedness commitment to understanding and giving fair consideration to alternative points of view, disposition to seek evidence or reasons that may tell against one’s view independent-mindedness possession of the intellectual honesty and courage necessary for seeking out relevant evidence and basing one’s beliefs and actions on it, despite pressures or temptations to do otherwise, and the personal strength to stand up for one’s firmly grounded …show more content…
(1999: 294-295)
Thus, to become an ideal critical thinker, one should be able to display most (if not all) mentioned characteristics or criteria. In other words, being a thinker who relies on his/her intellect as well as the background is not enough to be a critical thinker. In the same way, in order to indicate a degree of fulfilment of the criteria, it is possible to say that a person is doing good or poor critical thinking (Bailin et al. 1999), rather than claim that he/she is doing no critical thinking at
Although the above-discussed definitions and sets critical thinking characteristics emphasize the abilities or skills that one should exhibit as requirements for critical thought, a person still needs to possess certain dispositions (Ennis 1985 as cited in Paul et al. 1997, Bailin et al. 1999). Having dispositions here is referred to being willing, motivated or committed to thinking critically (Paul et al. 1997) as well as displaying ‘critical spirit’ (Passmore 1967 as cited in Bailin et al. 1999: 294, Siegel 1980 as cited in Paul et al. 1997: 13). These dispositions were tackled by various educators and thus can be described differently. Paul et al. (1997), for example, call them values still agreeing …show more content…
(1999) outline the most, in their opinion, important characteristics of a critical thinker represented below in Table 1.
Table 1. Characteristics of a critical thinker
Characteristic Interpretation respect for reasons and truth commitment to having justified beliefs, values and actions respect for high-quality products and performances appreciation of good design and effective performance an inquiring attitude inclination to assess the support for judgements one is asked to accept open-mindedness disposition to withhold judgement and seek new evidence or points of view when existing evidence is inadequate or contentious, and willingness to revise one’s view should the evidence warrant it fair-mindedness commitment to understanding and giving fair consideration to alternative points of view, disposition to seek evidence or reasons that may tell against one’s view independent-mindedness possession of the intellectual honesty and courage necessary for seeking out relevant evidence and basing one’s beliefs and actions on it, despite pressures or temptations to do otherwise, and the personal strength to stand up for one’s firmly grounded …show more content…
(1999: 294-295)
Thus, to become an ideal critical thinker, one should be able to display most (if not all) mentioned characteristics or criteria. In other words, being a thinker who relies on his/her intellect as well as the background is not enough to be a critical thinker. In the same way, in order to indicate a degree of fulfilment of the criteria, it is possible to say that a person is doing good or poor critical thinking (Bailin et al. 1999), rather than claim that he/she is doing no critical thinking at