Critical Thinking

“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” This quote from Siddhārtha Gautama (or more familiarly known as Buddha) exemplifies the basis of critical thinking. Critically thinking opens up your mind and liberates your thinking from the dangerous but very common mind-sets.

To illustrate, how often do we hear students say “Why does it have to be an essay test?! Why can't it be a multiple choice test? A true or false?”. This is just one of many examples of how people are comfortable being ignorant; students commonly avoid the task of actually knowing, people are satisfied with taking in the least information possible just to “get by”.

My point is, most of us would rather accept easy tasks that traps us in an illusion that we actually know something as opposed to real knowledge. Critically thinking is a powerful skill to have in life. Personally, thinking critically is a means of questioning particular claims that is presented to you and applying your own experience and reasoning along with it. I tend to question whether the text I'm reading is either logical or illogical, rational or irrational. Or simply put, I ask myself it really make sense to me.

Habitually, when reading and writing critically, I try to have an open mind and free myself from any subconscious beliefs and any prejudicial thoughts that could lead me to the wrong direction. I frequently ask myself if I see the bigger picture and if any of the claims relate to my own understanding of what is rational, logical or efficient.

I try to incorporate critical thinking in all aspects of my life, I do so because I think it's the healthy way of living and its important for any type of growth; Whether it involves analyzing politics, the media, academic work, or professional endeavors, I try to regularly be an active thinker and have something to say.

I personally, constantly analyze the media, I think it has a major role of influencing many people and it causes many social norms nowadays. The media is in part, responsible for creating the norms for social expectations and behaviors. In my opinion this could possibly be potentially dangerous.

When critically thinking around politics, I usually ask questions like “Who's argument is better and who's point of view is more appealing to me?”. Admittedly, I don't follow too much on politics. However, from the little experience I have, I'll a make a strong assumptions that our government isn't what it claims to be. I think that our government is in complete control of most issues and we the people, have little influence over these choices.

When critically thinking around academics, I frequently ask “Why is that? And “How?”. I apply critical thinking to academics mostly, I think its the key to gaining the most out of your classes.

I genuinely look forward to this class, I believe critically thinking and analyzing can improve many aspects of people's lives. I think the best way to develop stronger critical thinking skills it to basically keep practicing. This class is the perfect opportunity for me to practice on a daily basis, and hope to get the most out of this class.