What Is The Importance Of Critical Thinking

Randall Braman, author of Teaching Peace to Adults: Using Critical Thinking to Improve Conflict Resolution, believes that the key to peaceful conflict resolution is teaching critical thinking skills to adults. The critical thinking process will show them new ways of thinking and alter their perspectives on conflict. Ultimately, this will create a more peaceful environment for the individuals as well as society as a whole. Braman utilizes Jack Mezirow’s and Stephen Brookfield’s theoretical models of critical thinking to explain how critical thinking affects people’s thoughts and views. Mezirow’s model states that people learn how to decipher situations they encounter as a young child. People develop their own perspectives about the way things are and the way things work. These assumptions affect the way they see and relate to society. Teaching adults critical thinking will give them the tools they need to analyze these beliefs. Presented by differing viewpoints, people will eventually reshape their way of thinking and the way they view the world. Brookfield agrees that it is important for people to recognize assumptions and inquire …show more content…
I think critical thinking can make a huge impact on creating peace, especially for the individual. It will take a lot more work and effort to make a dent in creating peace on a larger scale, but we can establish it one person at a time. The authors methods on how to teach peace to the adult learner can be very effective, and are still relevant in today’s society. The research Braman used was not only appropriate but also clearly demonstrated his points. He gave detailed examples of challenges in critical thinking and how to overcome them. Examples of activities that would aid in the process were also provided for the instructors. Instructors, students, and society as a whole would benefit from utilizing critical thinking as way to improve conflict resolution and promote