Critical Thinking
Updated 2026-09-10
INTRODUCTION
English translation pending.
CORE DEFINITION
Critical thinking is a widely accepted educational aim whose definitions are disputed, yet the various definitions can be seen as different conceptions of one basic idea: careful thinking directed at a goal. Conceptions differ in the scope of thinking covered, the type of goal, the standards and norms governing the carefulness, and the components of thinking emphasized. The term descends from John Dewey's account of reflective thinking.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
- Break down arguments: split a claim into premises and conclusion, then check each support relation. - Audit standards: state the standards a judgment rests on instead of substituting intuition for reasons. - Calibrate goals: ask what goal the thinking serves before fixing how careful it must be.
Anchor fast decisions
Critical thinking works by making thinking itself the object: assertions, reasons, assumptions, and inferential structure are made explicit and then tested against norms of clarity, relevance, and sufficiency. Because the standards vary by domain, it is neither a fixed list of techniques nor mere negative criticism, but a cluster of abilities tied to domain norms and reflective dispositions.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/1Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- plato.stanford.eduhttps://plato.stanford.edu/entries/critical-thinking/verified
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