Critical Thinking Skills For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Chapter 1

Entering the Exciting World of Critical Thinking

IN THIS CHAPTER

Getting the big picture on thinking skills

Picking up cool tips for problem-solving

Steering clear of common misconceptions

Never underestimate the power of the “killer fact”! Often used to prove a point, facts are often what it all seems to come down to. But facts are powerless outside of an argument.

What do I mean by this? I mean a logical structure, not a slanging match. And whether pronounced gently or used to close an essay, the logic of real arguments is heady stuff, because, well, you can’t argue with logic. However, critical thinking is about much more than being logical, as Captain Kirk used to remind Mr. Spock in episodes of the much-loved TV show Star Trek. Critical thinking is about pressing points, sniffing a bit more skeptically at issues, and generally looking more closely at everything. Not only at factual claims but also, and most importantly, at the ways in which people arrive at their views and ideas. That’s why critical thinking requires not just a cool head but also imagination and indeed a bit of heart — an underpinning helping of emotional intelligence.

You may think, why bother? ...