CRrlcnl Tnlrurlruc 1 "It is ii hurnauist plinciple that if yolr wanl Lo know the trrtors." go to the sources, to the comueu- Jacclues Bat'zttu.l Overview The has awesome power. Johu Mrlton saicl, 'fhe mrr.rcl is its own piace, And in itself car nrake A l]eav'r'r o['FIeil, A Heil of Lleaiv'n. We nnrsl use the nrinci's llower ef1'ectivety, wtiich involvcs critical thinking. Clrtrcal thirrkirrg is sonretirles callecl s'ecrtrLcl orcler thinlcing. FirsL ortler thinlciils ls spontalleotls, often curotional, aucl rarely anaiyticiil ancl reflective. As sucir, il contaitts ple.ludice, bias, trLrth ancl cn'or', ins;tiration, ancl clistoltions; in short, goocl ancl bacl reasoning, illl mixecl lWe obtaineci tho basts fol much of Lhe infolmation in tirrs scction iion hanrloLLts, tiiscLrssitlns, attti wo|kshops irt the l2th to 20lh lnLclnirlional ConfeLences on Clitical'fhinkine ancl EciLLcltionrl llefolm sponsofed by Srtnomr State Unrvelsity's Clerrter fol CLitical 'lirinhing anci Molal L-'r'iticlLrc.tBrrztttt,.J.2(XX). FronL l)rLyvrr to l)c:tcrtlence; 1500 to llrc I'resen.! (New Yolk ,r 54l" -' ' Bctsic' Concepts and Tool.s: [/sing Muth und Critical Thinking 9 together. Second order thinlcing is essentially lirst order thinking "raised to the level of conscious realization," that is, analyzed. atssessed, ancl thereby reconstructed.3 Many scientists eqr"rate critical thinking with the application of the scientiFic method, but we think critical thinking is a fair broacler and more complex process. Critical thinkrng involves developing skills that enable you to dissect an issue (anerlryz.e) and put rt together (synthesize) so that interrelationships become itpparent. It involves searching fbr asstmtlttiong the basic ideas and concepts that guide our thoughts. Critical thinking also encourages an appreciation for our own and for others' poirtts of vieu,, which is important when approiiching complex environmental issues. Too often, analyzing complex issues leads some to a belief that everyone is "entitled" to an opinion that should be respected. We do not necessarily concur. However, problem scrlving demands a willingness to listen for content to whzrt others are saying. Talking is ca,sy, l1y1 listening is izor. Developing critical thinking skills is not like learning to ric'le a bi- cycle. A11 of us must learu to use ar set of inteilectuiil staudards as an "inner voice" by which we constantly test aud hone onr reasonirrg sl
f ultpt:uLing to pit.\t: "Three rnillion people wolk in the n'rining in- clust.r'y. Regardless of its impact, we have to support them." The firllacy
