2.The function of critical thinking
Critical thinking is a path to freedom from half-truths and deception. You have the right to question you see, hear, and read. Acquiring this ability is one of the major goals of a liberal education.
3.Critical Thinking as Thorough Thinking
Both critical thinking and thorough thinking point to the same array of activities: sorting out conflicting claims, weighting the evidence for them, letting go of personal bias, and arriving at reasonable views.
We live in a society that seems to value quick answers and certainty. This is often at odds with effective thinking. Thorough thinking is the ability to examine and reexamine ideas that may seem obvious. Such thinking takes time and the willingness to say three subversive words: I don’t know.
Thorough thinking is also the willingness to change our point of view as we continue to examine a problem. This calls for courage and detachment. Just ask anyone who has given up a cherished point of view in the light for new evidence.
Skilled students are thorough thinkers. They distinguish between opinion and fact. They ask powerful questions. They make detailed observations. They uncover assumptions and define their terms. They make assertions carefully, basing them on sound logic and solid evidence. Almost everything we called knowledge is a result of these activities. This means that critical thinking and learning are intimately linked.