Prof. Eiden FALL 2025 - Principles of Bio Sci with Lab (Asynchronous): What is "Critical Thinking"?

What is critical thinking?

“Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.”

“What is Critical Thinking?” Ideas to Action (i2a), University of Louisville, 2023,

https://louisville.edu/ideastoaction/about/criticalthinking/what. Accessed 20 Jan. 2023.

Critical thinkers:

• Ask questions
• Gather relevant information
• Think through solutions and conclusions
• Consider alternate systems of thought
• Communicate effectively

Richard, Paul and Linda Elder. “Elements of Thought.” The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools, Foundation for Critical Thinking, 2006, https://www.criticalthinking.org/files/Concepts_Tools.pdf. Accessed 20 Jan. 2023.