Critical thinking has a useful sequence to follow: Itemize opinion(s) from all relevant sides of an issue and collect Logical argument(s) supporting each. Break the arguments into their constituent statements and draw out various additional implication(s) from these statements. Examine these statements and implications for internal contradictions. Locate opposing claims between the various arguments and assign relative weights to opposing claims. Increase the weighting when the clai ...

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Critical thinking, Critical thinking - Overview, Critical thinking - Methods of critical thinking, Critical thinking - Overcoming bias, Critical thinking - Reaching a conclusion

Read more here: » Critical thinking: Encyclopedia II - Critical thinking - Methods of critical thinking

See also:

Critical thinking, Critical thinking - Overview, Critical thinking - Methods of critical thinking, Critical thinking - Overcoming bias, Critical thinking - Reaching a conclusion, Critical thinking - Critical thinking in the classroom, Critical thinking - Quotation

Read more here: » Critical thinking: Encyclopedia II - Critical thinking - Methods of critical thinking

Within the framework of skepticism, the process of critical thinking involves acquiring information and evaluating it to reach a well-justified conclusion or answer. Part of critical thinking comprises informal logic. Given research in cognitive psychology, educators increasingly believe that schools should focus more on teaching their students critical thinking skills than on memorizing facts by rote-learning. The process of critical thinking responds to many subjects and situations, finding connections between them. It forms, theref ...

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Critical thinking, Critical thinking - Overview, Critical thinking - Methods of critical thinking, Critical thinking - Overcoming bias, Critical thinking - Reaching a conclusion, Critical thinking - Critical thinking in the classroom, Critical thinking - Quotation

Read more here: » Critical thinking: Encyclopedia II - Critical thinking - Overview

Critical thinking is a mental process of analyzing or evaluating information, particularly statements or propositions that are offered as true. It is a process of reflecting upon the meaning of statements, examining the offered evidence and reasoning, and forming judgments about the facts. Such information may be gathered from observation, experience, reasoning, or communication. Critical thinking has its basis in intellectual values that go beyond subject matter divisions and include: clarity, a ...

Including:

• Critical thinking - Overview
• Critical thinking - Methods of critical thinking
• Critical thinking - Overcoming bias
• Critical thinking - Reaching a conclusion

Read more here: » Critical thinking: Encyclopedia - Critical thinking

For the achievers, the need to dream beyond what is possible, passion for the job, enthusiasm and sense of purpose are the prime tasks. The mental attitude to set clear goals, patience and perseverance even when the results are not visible, and the ability to take failure in one's stride sets these men and women apart. Positive thinking is critical.

(See also: Positive thinking, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Thought or thinking is a mental process which allows beings to model the world, and so to deal with it effectively according to their goals, plans, ends and desires. Concepts in our language, which are akin to thought are cognition, sentience, consciousness, idea, and imagination. As of yet, the English language has not coined more specific words for the exact experiences and endeav ...

Including:

• Thought - Basic process
• Thought - Aids/pitfalls to thinking
• Thought - Reference

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A critic (from Greek κριτικός, kritikós - one who discerns, from Ancient Greek κριτής, krités, a judge) is a person who offers judgement or analysis, value judgement, interpretation, or observation. The term can also be used to describe an adherent of a position disagreeing with or opposing the object of criticism. Critics include professionals or amateurs who regularly judge or interpret performances or other works (such as that of artists, scientists, musicians or actors) and, typically, publishes their ...

Read more here: » Critic: Encyclopedia - Critic

Argumentation theory, or argumentation, is the science of effective civil debate or dialogue and the effective propagation thereof, using rules of inference and logic, as applied in the real world setting. Argumentation is concerned primarily with reaching conclusions through logical reasoning based on certain premises. Although including debate and negotiation which are concerned with reaching mutually acceptable conclusions, argumentation theory also encompasses the branch of social debate in which victory over an opponent is the pr ...

Including:

• Argumentation theory - Links on argumentation theory

Read more here: » Argumentation theory: Encyclopedia - Argumentation theory

Rudolf Steiner (February 27, 1861, Murakirály, Hungary (today Donji Kraljevec, Croatia, (Medjimurje county) – March 30, 1925) was an Austrian philosopher, literary scholar, architect, playwright, educator, and social thinker, who is best known as the founder of Anthroposophy and its practical applications, including Waldorf School, Biodynamic agriculture, the Camphill Movement, and the Christian Community. Steiner characterized history as essentially shaped by changes formed through a progressive development of human conscio ...

Including:

• Rudolf Steiner - Goethean scholar philosopher phenomenologist of spirit and sense perception
• Rudolf Steiner - Waldorf education
• Rudolf Steiner - Steiner the activist and the threefold nature of social life
• Rudolf Steiner - Steiner's outlook on social history
• Rudolf Steiner - The three kinds of social separations Steiner wanted strengthened
• Rudolf Steiner - Education's relation to the state and the economy
• Rudolf Steiner - Liberty Equality Fraternity
• Rudolf Steiner - Architecture eurythmy and free spiritual culture
• Rudolf Steiner - Weleda biodynamic farming Camphill
• Rudolf Steiner - A few aspects of Steiner's way of thinking
• Rudolf Steiner - Breadth of Activity
• Rudolf Steiner - Steiner criticism
• Rudolf Steiner - Philosophical debate
• Rudolf Steiner - Selected bibliography

Read more here: » Rudolf Steiner: Encyclopedia - Rudolf Steiner

John Ruskin (February 8, 1819 – January 20, 1900) was an English author, poet and artist, although more famous for his work as art critic and social critic. Ruskin's thinking on art and architecture became the thinking of the Victorian and Edwardian eras. John Ruskin - Life and works. Ruskin was born in London, and was brought up in south London. He was educated at the University of Oxford (Christ Church), where he was awarded a prize for poetry, his earliest interest. It was there that he met Joseph Mall ...

Including:

• John Ruskin - Life and works
• John Ruskin - Partial bibliography
• John Ruskin - Definitions

Read more here: » John Ruskin: Encyclopedia - John Ruskin

Argumentum ad crumenam is a logical fallacy of thinking a conclusion is correct because the person making the argument is rich. Example: If you're so smart, why aren't you rich? I think Mary is a good role model. She's pretty rich so she must be doing something right. This new law is a good idea. Most of the people against it are riff-raff who make less than $20,000 a year. This fallacy is notably prevalent in art, movie, video game, or music criticism; in the form "you can try to criticize product X but it makes millions so you do ...

Read more here: » Argumentum ad crumenam: Encyclopedia - Argumentum ad crumenam

Penn & Teller: Bullshit! (2003-) is a Showtime Channel TV program shown in the United States, hosted by professional magicians/comedians Penn Jillette and Teller. Three seasons have already aired and it's been renewed for at least two more seasons. The aim of the show is to expose ideas they believe to be unscientific or pseudoscientific through critical thinking and scientific skepticism, and to expose promoters of such things — especially those with ulterior motives (primarily financial exploitation). They also base som ...

Including:

• Bullshit! - Show format
• Bullshit! - Criticism of the show
• Bullshit! - Episode list

Read more here: » Bullshit!: Encyclopedia - Bullshit!

Vance Packard (May 22, 1914 - December 12, 1996) was an American journalist, social critic, and author. His million-selling book The Hidden Persuaders, about media manipulation of the populace in the 1950s was a forerunner of pop sociology: science-based thinking without the weight of detail or eloquence, geared for sale to the mass market. Packard's work, though it sold well, was criticized as poorly thought out, light on facts, high on supposition, and frivolous for his serious topics. In truth, much of the emerging wo ...

Including:

• Vance Packard - Life events
• Vance Packard - Books

Read more here: » Vance Packard: Encyclopedia - Vance Packard

René Descartes' Latin statement "cogito, ergo sum" (traditionally translated as "I think, therefore I am", but more accurately as "I am thinking, therefore I exist") is possibly the single best-known philosophical statement. "Cogito ergo sum" is a translation of Descartes' original French statement: "Je pense, donc je suis", which occurs in his Discourse on Method. Although the idea expressed by "cogito ergo sum" is most commonly associated with Descartes, it was present in many of his predecessors, especially Augustine of Hippo in De Civitate Dei (books XI, 26), who offers th ...

Including:

• Cogito ergo sum - Introduction
• Cogito ergo sum - Criticisms of the cogito
• Cogito ergo sum - Williams's argument

Read more here: » Cogito ergo sum: Encyclopedia - Cogito ergo sum

Fruitarians (or fructarians) are a subgroup of vegans who eat only the fruit of plants. This includes not only what one typically thinks of as a "fruit" in the culinary sense such as apples and oranges, but also other foods that are botanically the fruits of flowering plants (that is, the seed-containing reproductive parts), including berries, nuts, seeds, capsicums, tomatoes, squash, beans, peas, and so on. There are different variations of fruitarianism. Some fruitarians will eat only what falls (or would fall) naturally from ...

Including:

• Fruitarianism - Motivation
• Fruitarianism - Famous fruitarians
• Fruitarianism - Biblical fruitarians
• Fruitarianism - Fictional fruitarians
• Fruitarianism - Criticism
• Fruitarianism - Fruitarian online community

Read more here: » Fruitarianism: Encyclopedia - Fruitarianism

Christian vegetarianism is the dietary practice of vegetarianism or veganism based on the belief that Jesus Christ, the twelve apostles and the early Messianic Jewish followers of Jesus (the Ebionites) were vegetarians. Some Christian vegetarians, such as Keith Akers, think that a movement away from simple living and vegetarianism began with Paul, and that they need to return to pre-Pauline early Christianity. However critics suggest that the decision to be vegetarian or omnivore is purely a personal choice, as there are many pass ...

Read more here: » Christian vegetarianism: Encyclopedia - Christian vegetarianism

The Club of Rome is a global think tank that deals with a variety of international political issues. Club of Rome - Introduction. The Club of Rome was founded in April 1968 by Aurelio Peccei, an Italian scholar and industrialist, and Alexander King, a Scottish scientist. The Club of Rome raised considerable public attention with its report The Limits to Growth, which has sold 30 million copies in more than 30 translations making it the best selling environment book in world history. The ...

Including:

• Club of Rome - Introduction
• Club of Rome - Organisation
• Club of Rome - Criticism

Read more here: » Club of Rome: Encyclopedia - Club of Rome

Critics such as Ralph Nader have suggested that the private nature of the funding of think tanks may bias their resulting findings. Some argue members will be inclined to promote or publish only those results that ensure the continued flow of funds from private donors. This risk of distortion similarly threatens the reputation and integrity of organizations such as universities, once considered t ...

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Think tank, Think tank - History of think tanks, Think tank - Etymology and usage, Think tank - Types of think tanks, Think tank - American think tanks, Think tank - Chinese think tanks, Think tank - European think tanks, Think tank - Russian think tanks, Think tank - Criticism, Think tank - Additional reading

Read more here: » Think tank: Encyclopedia II - Think tank - Criticism

The DSM attempts to represent a consensus view of the members of the American Psychiatric Association. However, more so than in other parts of the DSM, the classification of Axis II personality disorders—deeply ingrained, maladaptive, lifelong behaviour patterns—has come under sustained and serious criticism from its inception in 1952. The DSM adopts a categorical approach, assuming that personality disorders are "qualitatively distinct clinical syndromes" (p. 689). This is doubted by many. The polythetic form of the DSM's Diagnostic Cri ...

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Personality disorder, Personality disorder - DSM criteria, Personality disorder - General diagnostic criteria for a personality disorder, Personality disorder - List of personality disorders defined in the DSM, Personality disorder - Current thinking and criticism, Personality disorder - Footnote

Read more here: » Personality disorder: Encyclopedia II - Personality disorder - Current thinking and criticism

Some think tanks are clearly aligned with conservative or pro-market approaches to the economy, while others, especially those with an emphasis on social welfare, social equity or environmental outcomes, are viewed as more liberal or left-of-center. Think tank - American think tanks. Think tanks in the United States play an important role in forming both foreign and domestic policy. Typically, an issue such as national missile defense will be debated within and among think tanks and the result of these deb ...

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Think tank, Think tank - History of think tanks, Think tank - Etymology and usage, Think tank - Types of think tanks, Think tank - American think tanks, Think tank - Chinese think tanks, Think tank - European think tanks, Think tank - Russian think tanks, Think tank - Criticism, Think tank - Additional reading

Read more here: » Think tank: Encyclopedia II - Think tank - Types of think tanks