Philosophy includes contemplating the possibility that you might be wrong.  — Terry Pratchett

Now more than ever, fearless critical thinking is indispensable.

Why “fearless”? Because prime thinking seeks the truth, even if that requires challenging conventional wisdom or our own beloved ideas. What are some key elements of critical thinking?

On mindset:

• Remain curious.
• Appreciate our own ignorance, blind spots, biases, and uncertainties.
• Recognize the limits of human perception and technological tools.
• Be patient to allow insights to develop and unfold, and to overcome stumbling blocks and setbacks.
• Remain humble and open-minded.

On process:

• Investigate whether the source of information is reliable and trustworthy.
• Distinguish assumptions from the logical reasoning that flows from assumptions.
• Avoid logical fallacies.
• Take the necessary time to ponder and cogitate carefully and intentionally.
• Investigate something’s history to help explain how and why the present circumstances came to be.
• Reach out to learn from opposing and contrasting viewpoints.
• Recognize that events may have multiple root causes.
• Search for the unintended consequences and ripple effects of potential solutions and actions.
• Try to articulate ideas as clearly and precisely as possible so that ambiguity does not degrade sound thinking.
• Ask “why,” repeatedly, about answers to questions.

On substance:

• Start with as few assumptions as possible.
• Understand our own assumptions and the context of the inquiry.
• Rely as much as possible on facts.
• Rely on hypotheses that can be, and have been, tested.
• Learn from psychological research on how our thinking processes can mislead us.
• Understand the window of time at issue, especially long-term and geological time.
• Understand whether the context involves a frame of reference beyond the grasp of direct or immediate human perception, such as the ripple effects of invisible pollution or diverse international reaction to trade or immigration policy, or the long-term effects of smoking or dietary choices.
• Appreciate the power of statistics, as opposed to anecdotes, intuition, and emotions.
• Understand that correlation is not necessarily causation.

“SEKAR” Analysis

Once you have identified an idea that merits careful scrutiny, try keeping in mind the tips outlined above and use a five-part “SEKAR” analysis (pronounced “seeker”) — Source, Evidence, Knowing, Assumptions, Reconsider — to think critically:

1. Source: Where did the idea come from? Did you make up this idea or did you learn it from someone else?
2. Evidence: Is the source for the idea reliable? If you made up the idea, why? Do you have strong evidence to support it? Have you done a thorough job of fact checking? If you did not make up the idea, who did, and why would you rely on that person? Is he or she an expert on this subject? If you don’t know who made up the idea, can you figure out where it came from and why?
3. Knowing: Did you adopt the idea on purpose? Did you consciously choose to accept and believe in this idea? Why or why not? Is your belief based on evidence, faith, your childhood education, or something else?
4. Assumptions: What assumptions does this idea rely upon? Have you analyzed those underlying assumptions too? Unpacking assumptions may require drilling down through several layers of ideas.
5. Reconsider: Have you reconsidered the idea? When was the last time you evaluated this idea? Does it still seem right? What information would you find useful to analyze the idea further, as well as the assumptions that underlie the idea? What kind of self-reflection or expert advice might you find helpful?

Here are some other resources to improve critical thinking:

• The Foundation for Critical Thinking describes itself as a “non-profit organization that seeks to promote essential change in education and society through the cultivation of fairminded critical thinking — thinking which embodies intellectual empathy, intellectual humility, intellectual perseverance, intellectual integrity and intellectual responsibility.”

Can you add to these lists or share other insights about critical thinking? Contact us and give us your thoughts.