Applying Critical Thinking Reflection – Wk 5
HUM/115
2
Applying Critical Thinking Reflection – Wk 5
One of the essential skills that need to be addressed and take seriously is critical thinking.
If we do, it
...
Applying Critical Thinking Reflection – Wk 5
HUM/115
2
Applying Critical Thinking Reflection – Wk 5
One of the essential skills that need to be addressed and take seriously is critical thinking.
If we do, it will benefit us all, not only the present generations but children and future
generations to live. Critical thinking in everyday life is a set of skills that if used efficiently will
help avoid any type of misunderstanding and wrong led arguments based on emotions rather than
facts. Critical thinking is made of a series of elements like reason, emotion, and communication
that led to fallacies and arguments.
Elements of Critical Thinking
“Critical thinking requires learning how to think rather than simply what to think” (Boss,
Judith A, 2017), in Sally’s critical thinking scenario a barrier in the form of resistance was
apparent when after a long day at work Sally’s goes for dinner with some colleagues and when
they began discussing an issue at work that was causing friction between departments Sally
decided to avoid them by simply nodding her head then decided not to go out with them after
that day. It also shows that Sally possesses characteristics of a good critical thinker because even
though Sally did not agree with her colleagues’ viewpoint on the causes of that friction, she did
not want to say anything because she felt that she did not know enough about what they were
talking about which shows good analytical skills.
Reason, Emotion, and Communication
Other elements like reason, emotion and communication also appear in Sally’s scenario. At
dinner with her colleagues even though she did not agree she decided to stay quiet because she
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was not one hundred percent sure what they were talking about “reason is the process of
supporting a claim or conclusion on the basis of evidence”, her emotions got the best of her when
she decided that it will be the last time she will spend time with them after work the last thing
she wanted after a long day was to keep talking about work, she was a passive communicator
avoiding confrontation and putting her own needs after those of others by simply staying quiet
and simply going along with the conversation.
Fallacies and Argument
A fallacy presented when Sally asks the manager about changing the warranty policy, her
manager did not agree with her argument, and replied to her by asking: “How can you be arguing
for change in policy when you are late to work most of the time?” it was probably truth but it had
nothing to do with the warranty policy, this fallacy was proved to be weak and invalid because
when Sally decided to go to the company’s leadership at the end the warranty policy was change.
The argument, therefore, proves to be invalid because it had nothing to do with the customer
satisfaction which at the end of the day based on experience it was Sally’s goal.
Conclusion
In conclusion, critical thinking is not just the way we think about certain things but
learning how to think. It helps us grow in our everyday life by becoming more analytical, better
communicators, well informed with good research skills, flexible, creative, problem solvers, and
attentive are just a few characteristics. Reason, emotions, fallacies, and arguments are part of
this that when able to apply critical thinking skills you become aware of when to stay quiet or
when to talk. Critical thinking is a set of skills that will help in all that we do no matter where we
are these skills can be apply for the benefit not just of us but people around us.
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