This book left me with lots to think about. Ha\u2026see what I did there?<\/p>\n
Dr. Richard Paul and Dr. Linda Elder do a great job of giving methods, tools, and examples of critical thinking in this compact book. It is a super quick read but I spent a lot of time reading and rereading these important concepts.<\/p>\n
I was struck by the simple way they articulated most peoples lack of critical thinking. They did not come right out and say that most people do not think, but by reading their methods you come to realize very few people take thinking seriously. The Low Order Thinker[1]<\/a> pretty much describes most people I know. When I look around I see people largely self-serving, frequently relying on gut intuition, and altogether unreflective. To be honest, when reading this section I started questioning if this is the level of thought I fall into. Of course, I want to be of the Highest Order Thinking but I truly believe I have a long way to go.<\/p>\n Our cultures lack of critical thinking is a serious issue, particularly for the church. This is easily highlighted in Christian culture by everyone\u2019s excitement to see the latest Hollywood movies like Left Behind, Heaven is for Real, Noah, Exodus, etc. People line up, pay good money, and watch these epic films without ever questioning their biblical accuracy. The same can be said for the weekly books I get recommended to me by people in my church. Many people readily consume media and literature and quickly make assumptions without asking questions and gathering information. This speaks to what Paul & Elder call the \u201cunreflective thinker,\u201d the person who is unaware of significant problems in their thinking.[2]<\/a><\/p>\n I believe I all too often resemble the Unreflective Thinker and becoming an Accomplished Thinker[3]<\/a> is one of my main goals for this doctoral program. I really see this as major area of growth for me. I can relate to Paul and Elder\u2019s Egocentric Thinking statement that says, \u201cit is true because I want to believe it.\u201d[4]<\/a> It\u2019s intellectually lazy but I too often allow my agenda to motivate my study and teaching. I want to get rid of this \u201cfeel good\u201d approach and learn true critical thinking. This doctoral program will make us face the problems in our thinking, we will regularly practice critical thinking, we will gain intellectual skills, and all of this will hopefully become second nature and internalized intellectual virtues.<\/p>\n This concise book will stay on my desk for a while. I know I need it. Developing critical thinking skills will be hard work but it is what I desire. The art of asking good questions, reasoning, developing intellectual virtues, and critical thinking only become second nature with practice, and I foresee myself getting plenty of practice these next few years.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Paul, Dr. Richard, and Dr. Linda Elder.\u00a0Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools<\/em>. 6th ed.: Foundation for Critical Thinking, 1999. 7<\/p>\n