A Practical Guide to Critical Thinking, 2nd Edition

APPENDIX B CRITICAL THINKING STRATEGIES

Critical thinking is reasonable and reflective thinking aimed at deciding what to believe or what to do. It is reflective in part because it requires us to think about our reasons as reasons, and so to ask whether they are acceptable and sufficient. It is reasonable in part because it requires us to look for reasons for our decisions. Throughout this book we have identified strategies and tricks that can help us to be more reflective and reasonable in our thinking. Here are some of them, organized into different categories.

B.1 GENERAL PURPOSE CRITICAL THINKING STRATEGIES

The rule of Threes.   The rule of threes has such broad application that it is difficult to state simply. Here are some applications of it. Find three alternative courses of action when trying to decide what to do. Look for three objections to a view you are defending. Think about a problem from three different perspectives before trying to solve it. Look for three examples when trying to define a concept. Looking for three—or, even better, five!—will help you become more reflective in your thinking by forcing you to think “outside the box.” Usually, finding one or two of the things you are looking for is relatively easy; trying to find more may force you to think harder, which is almost always good.

Do Not Personalize Reasons.   Reasons and evidence do not belong to anyone; they are universal. And whether they are good has nothing to do with who accepts them; they ...