Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the disciplined mental activity of evaluating arguments or propositions and make judgments that can guide the development of beliefs and taking action. Critical thinking is the driver of innovation and systematization

Critical thinking can be defined by understanding what "is not" critical thinking. Examples of non-critical thinking are;

• Habitual thinking (thinking based on past practices);
• Creative thinking (rearranging facts and concepts in new ways);
• Prejudicial thinking (biased gathering of facts to support a position);
• Emotive thinking (responding to the emotion of a message rather than content).

Critical thinking can work in conjunction with creative thinking, for example, by first recognizing ‘what is’ which leads to creating a ‘what will be’.

The key about critical analysis is that it has to take place in the absence of wishful thinking. Humans have all sorts of hopes, desires and biases regarding their organization, but often facts will not support them. Critical analysis, instead of starting with. "I want this-how do I get there?" starts with. "This is what we have – what can we do?" It is reality based! The advantage of the latter is that success is much more likely.

There is a need to develop critical thinking tools that improve modeling and/or personal experiences to leverage education's traditional focus on declarative knowledge.

Path-ligner™ and the Path-ligner Process™ assist companies in the critical thinking process.