Critical Thinking

Ammar Aslam (BCSF17A013)

Umair Ahmad (BCSF17A016)
Hasaan Majeed (BCSF17A023)
Yasir Rehman (BCSF17A026)
Hamza Razzaq (BCSF17A037)
 What is Thinking?
Why is the sky blue?
Is time travel possible?
Why doesn’t he like me?

As you start asking questions and seek answers, you are in

fact THINKING.

"The process of actively and skillfully

conceptualizing, applying, analyzing,
synthesizing, and evaluating information to
reach an answer or conclusion"
 TYPES OF THINKING

 Abstract Thinking
It is the ability to look beyond what is
obvious and search for hidden meanings.
 Analytical Thinking
It is the ability to seek answers and use logic
rather than emotional thinking in life.
 Creative Thinking
The ability to think outside the box and
come up with ingenious solutions to solve a
problem.
 TYPES OF THINKING
 Concrete Thinking
It is the thinking of objects or ideas as
specific items, rather than as a theoretical
representation of a more general idea.

 Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking deals with careful
evaluation or judgement in order to
determine authenticity, accuracy, worth,
validity, or value of something.
 TYPES OF THINKING
 Convergent Thinking
It is the process of combining a
finite number of perspective or ideas to
find a single solution.

 Divergent Thinking
It is the way of exploring an
infinite number of solutions to find one
that is effective
 What is Critical Thinking?

It is the ability to think clearly and rationally about what to do or

what to believe.
What is Critical Thinking?
Examples of not Thinking Critically
 What is Critical Thinking?
Critical thinking is general term given to a wide range of cognitive
and intellectual skills needed to:

 Effectively identify, analyze and evaluate arguments.

 Discover and overcome personal prejudices and biases.
 Formulate and present convincing reason in support of
conclusions.
 Make reasonable, intelligent decisions about what to believe
and what to do.

It is a skill so fortunately for us we can enhance it through practice.

 HISTORY

The earliest documentation of critical thinking

are the teachings of Socrates recorded by Plato.
Socrates established the fact that one cannot
depend upon those in "authority" to have sound
knowledge and insight. He demonstrated that
persons may have power and high position and yet
be deeply confused and irrational. He established
the importance of asking deep questions that probe
profoundly into thinking before we accept ideas as
worthy of belief.
Sculpture of Socrates
Critical Thinking
Standards
 Intellectual standards are standards which
must be applied to think critically. Thinking
critically requires having command over following
standards
 CLARITY
 ACCURACY Breadth Clarity
 PRECESION
 RELEVANCE
Standards
 DEPTH Accuracy
Depth
 BREADTH
 LOGIC
 FAIRNESS Precision
Relevance
1. Clarity
Could you elaborate further?
Could you give an example?
Could explain in another way? Blah blah
Blah blah

If a statement is unclear, we cannot

determine whether it is accurate or
relevant. In fact, we cannot tell
anything about it because we don’t
know what it is saying.
2. Accuracy
Is it really true?
How could we check that?
How could we find out if it is true?

I can read this

book in 10
minutes

A statement can be clear but not accurate.

3. Precision
 Could you give more details?
 Could you be more specific?

Jack is
overweight
But how
much

A statement can be clear and accurate but not precise.

4. Relevance
 How is that connected to this issue?
 How does that help us with this issue?

What are
My fathers name is
you doing?
Tanveer.

A statement can be clear ,accurate and precise but not

relevant to the question at issue.
5. Depth
 What factors create this problem?
 What difficulties we need to deal with?
Nobody tells
why!!!

A statement can be clear, accurate, precise and

relevant but not in depth.
6. Breadth
Do we need to consider another point of view?
Is there another way to look at this question?

Ii was studying all I studied one

night and got zero hour and got
marks full

A line of reasoning can be clear, accurate, precise,

relevant and deep but still ignore another side of
argument.
7. Logic
Does this really make sense?
Does what you say follow the evidence?
Does this contradict a previous statement?
When
combination of
thoughts are
mutually
supporting and
make sense,
Superman can see
through anything thinking is
“Logical”..
8. Fairness
Do I have vested interest in this issue?
Am I also representing the viewpoints of others?
Am I open minded? We do not naturally
consider the rights
and needs of others
on the same plane
with their own
rights and needs,
but to be a good
thinker you should
apply “Fairness” in
your thinking.
 Facts and Opinions
Fact is something which can be verified with
evidences and is provable, observable and
measurable.
 Facts and Opinions
Opinion is something which can’t be proven,
and they are based on someone’s thoughts ,
feelings and understanding.
 Errors In Thinking
Three types of broad errors in critical
thinking

 Errors of Perception
 Errors of Judgment
 Errors of Reaction
 Perception Errors
Errors of perception are not blunders made while
examining issues. They are faulty ways of seeing
reality, preventing us from being open-minded
even before we begin to apply our critical
thinking.
 “Mine is better” thinking
 Selective Perception
 Judgment Errors
Errors of judgment occur in the process of sorting
out and assessing evidence. They prevent us from
reaching the most reasonable conclusion.
 Hasty conclusions
 Oversimplification
 Reaction Errors
Errors of reaction occur when we express a
viewpoint and someone reacts negatively.
They are defensive reactions that preserve our
self-image and provide an excuse to maintain our
view.
 Shifting the burden of proof
 Straw man
 Benefits of Critical Thinking
 Thinker improves the quality of his or her
thinking by skillfully taking charge of the
structures inherent in thinking and imposing
intellectual standards upon them.
 Thinker can raise vital questions and problems,
formulating them clearly and precisely.
 Thinker can communicate effectively with others
in figuring out solutions to complex problems.
 Critical Thinking skills teach a variety of skills
that can be applied to any situation in life that
calls for reflection, analysis and planning.
Characteristics of Critical Thinker
Critical thinkers
 Are honest with themselves.
 Regard problems and controversial
issues as exciting challenges.
 Base judgments on evidence rather
than personal preferences.
 Are interested in other people’s ideas
and so are willing to read and listen
attentively.
 Barriers of Critical Thinking
 Everyone thinks; it is our nature to do
so. But much of our thinking, left to
itself, is biased, distorted, partial,
uninformed or down-right prejudiced.
 The quality of our life and that of what
we produce, make, or build depends
precisely on the quality of our thought.
 Shoddy thinking is costly, both in money
and in quality of life.
 Critical Thinking
Tools/Approaches
Analysis, Synthesis and
Evaluation
Analysis
Analysis involves examining and
breaking information into component
parts, determining how the parts
relate to one another, identifying
motives or causes and finding
evidence to support generalizations.

 Analysis of elements
 Analysis of relationships
What? How? Why?
What? How? Why?
 These are questions whose answers are
considered basic in information gathering or
problem solving.

 Each question has a factual answer. None of these

questions can be answered with a simple "yes" or
"no".
 Abstraction
It is a conceptual process
where general rules and
concepts are derived from
the usage and classification
of specific examples.
Particular facts are combined
into one general theory about
something.
Critical Thinking in Education
 Heuristic technique is any approach to problem solving or
self-discovery that employs a practical method.
 Heuristics are the strategies derived from previous
experiences with similar problems.
 In Communication Skills, Sir Humayun relies on Heuristic
method.

 Problem solving in Computer Science (and our lab) rely on

finding solutions using critical thinking.