Critical versus Natural thinking – Philosophy

EXHIBIT 1.3 Natural versus critical thinking.

1. As humans we think; as critical thinkers we analyze our thinking. 2. As humans we think egocentrically; as critical thinkers we expose the egocentric roots of our thinking to close scrutiny. 3. As humans we are drawn to standards of thinking unworthy of belief; as critical thinkers we expose inappropriate standards and

replace them with sound ones. 4. As humans we live in systems of meanings that typically entrap us; as critical thinkers we learn how to raise our thinking to

conscious examination, enabling us to free ourselves from many of the traps of undisciplined, instinctive thought. 5. As humans we use logical systems whose root structures are not apparent to us; as critical thinkers we develop tools for

explicating and assessing the logical systems in which we live. 6. As humans we live with the illusion of intellectual and emotion freedom; as critical thinkers we take explicit intellectual and

emotional command of who we are, what we are, and the ends to which our lives are tending. 7. As human thinkers we are governed by our thoughts; as critical thinkers we learn how to govern the thoughts that govern us.