16.3: Chapter 3
- Page ID
- 310034
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00:11 Every day, a sea of decisions stretches before us.
00:15 Some are small and unimportant,
00:17 but others have a larger impact on our lives.
00:19 For example, which politician should I vote for?
00:22 Should I try the latest diet craze?
00:24 Or will email make me a millionaire?
00:27 We're bombarded with so many decisions
00:30 that it's impossible to make a perfect choice every time.
00:33 But there are many ways to improve our chances,
00:36 and one particularly effective technique is critical thinking.
00:40 This is a way of approaching a question
00:42 that allows us to carefully deconstruct a situation,
00:45 reveal its hidden issues, such as bias and manipulation,
00:48 and make the best decision.
00:51 If the critical part sounds negative that's because in a way it is.
00:56 Rather than choosing an answer because it feels right,
00:58 a person who uses critical thinking
01:00 subjects all available options to scrutiny and skepticism.
01:05 Using the tools at their disposal,
01:06 they'll eliminate everything but the most useful and reliable information.
01:11 There are many different ways of approaching critical thinking,
01:15 but here's one five-step process
01:17 that may help you solve any number of problems.
01:21 One: formulate your question.
01:23 In other words, know what you're looking for.
01:26 This isn't always as straightforward as it sounds.
01:29 For example, if you're deciding whether to try out the newest diet craze,
01:33 your reasons for doing so may be obscured by other factors,
01:37 like claims that you'll see results in just two weeks.
01:40 But if you approach the situation
01:42 with a clear view of what you're actually trying to accomplish by dieting,
01:46 whether that's weight loss,
01:48 better nutrition,
01:49 or having more energy,
01:50 that'll equip you to sift through this information critically,
01:54 find what you're looking for,
01:55 and decide whether the new fad really suits your needs.
02:00 Two: gather your information.
02:03 There's lots of it out there,
02:05 so having a clear idea of your question will help you determine what's relevant.
02:09 If you're trying to decide on a diet to improve your nutrition,
02:12 you may ask an expert for their advice,
02:14 or seek other people's testimonies.
02:16 Information gathering helps you weigh different options,
02:19 moving you closer to a decision that meets your goal.
02:23 Three: apply the information,
02:25 something you do by asking critical questions.
02:29 Facing a decision, ask yourself, "What concepts are at work?"
02:32 "What assumptions exist?"
02:34 "Is my interpretation of the information logically sound?"
02:38 For example, in an email that promises you millions,
02:41 you should consider, "What is shaping my approach to this situation?"
02:45 "Do I assume the sender is telling the truth?"
02:48 "Based on the evidence, is it logical to assume I'll win any money?"
02:54 Four: consider the implications.
02:56 Imagine it's election time,
02:58 and you've selected a political candidate based on their promise
03:01 to make it cheaper for drivers to fill up on gas.
03:04 At first glance, that seems great.
03:06 But what about the long-term environmental effects?
03:09 If gasoline use is less restricted by cost,
03:12 this could also cause a huge surge in air pollution,
03:16 an unintended consequence that's important to think about.
03:20 Five: explore other points of view.
03:23 Ask yourself why so many people are drawn
03:26 to the policies of the opposing political candidate.
03:29 Even if you disagree with everything that candidate says,
03:32 exploring the full spectrum of viewpoints
03:34 might explain why some policies that don't seem valid to you appeal to others.
03:40 This will allow you to explore alternatives,
03:42 evaluate your own choices,
03:44 and ultimately help you make more informed decisions.
03:48 This five-step process is just one tool,
03:51 and it certainly won't eradicate difficult decisions from our lives.
03:55 But it can help us increase the number of positive choices we make.
04:00 Critical thinking can give us the tools to sift through a sea of information
04:04 and find what we're looking for.
04:06 And if enough of us use it,
04:07 it has the power to make the world a more reasonable place.
“5 Tips to Improve Your Critical Thinking” by Samantha Agoos is licensed by TED under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0