| 11s | Every day, a sea of decisions stretches before us. |
| 15s | Some are small and unimportant, |
| 17s | but others have a larger impact on our lives. |
| 19s | For example, which politician should I vote for? |
| 22s | Should I try the latest diet craze? |
| 24s | Or will email make me a millionaire? |
| 27s | We're bombarded with so many decisions |
| 30s | that it's impossible to make a perfect choice every time. |
| 33s | But there are many ways to improve our chances, |
| 36s | and one particularly effective technique is critical thinking. |
| 40s | This is a way of approaching a question |
| 42s | that allows us to carefully deconstruct a situation, |
| 45s | reveal its hidden issues, such as bias and manipulation, |
| 48s | and make the best decision. |
| 51s | If the critical part sounds negative that's because in a way it is. |
| 56s | Rather than choosing an answer because it feels right, |
| 58s | a person who uses critical thinking |
| 60s | subjects all available options to scrutiny and skepticism. |
| 65s | Using the tools at their disposal, |
| 66s | they'll eliminate everything but the most useful and reliable information. |
| 71s | There are many different ways of approaching critical thinking, |
| 75s | but here's one five-step process |
| 77s | that may help you solve any number of problems. |
| 81s | One: formulate your question. |
| 83s | In other words, know what you're looking for. |
| 86s | This isn't always as straightforward as it sounds. |
| 89s | For example, if you're deciding whether to try out the newest diet craze, |
| 93s | your reasons for doing so may be obscured by other factors, |
| 97s | like claims that you'll see results in just two weeks. |
| 100s | But if you approach the situation |
| 102s | with a clear view of what you're actually trying to accomplish by dieting, |
| 106s | whether that's weight loss, |
| 108s | |
| 109s | |
| 110s | that'll equip you to sift through this information critically, |
| 114s | find what you're looking for, |
| 115s | and decide whether the new fad really suits your needs. |
| 120s | Two: gather your information. |
| 123s | There's lots of it out there, |
| 125s | so having a clear idea of your question will help you determine what's relevant. |
| 129s | If you're trying to decide on a diet to improve your nutrition, |
| 132s | you may ask an expert for their advice, |
| 134s | or seek other people's testimonies. |
| 136s | Information gathering helps you weigh different options, |
| 139s | moving you closer to a decision that meets your goal. |
| 143s | Three: apply the information, |
| 145s | something you do by asking critical questions. |
| 149s | Facing a decision, ask yourself, "What concepts are at work?" |
| 152s | "What assumptions exist?" |
| 154s | "Is my interpretation of the information logically sound?" |
| 158s | For example, in an email that promises you millions, |
| 161s | you should consider, "What is shaping my approach to this situation?" |
| 165s | "Do I assume the sender is telling the truth?" |
| 168s | "Based on the evidence, is it logical to assume I'll win any money?" |
| 174s | Four: consider the implications. |
| 176s | Imagine it's election time, |
| 178s | and you've selected a political candidate based on their promise |
| 181s | to make it cheaper for drivers to fill up on gas. |
| 184s | At first glance, that seems great. |
| 186s | But what about the long-term environmental effects? |
| 189s | If gasoline use is less restricted by cost, |
| 192s | this could also cause a huge surge in air pollution, |
| 196s | an unintended consequence that's important to think about. |
| 200s | Five: explore other points of view. |
| 203s | Ask yourself why so many people are drawn |
| 206s | to the policies of the opposing political candidate. |
| 209s | Even if you disagree with everything that candidate says, |
| 212s | exploring the full spectrum of viewpoints |
| 214s | might explain why some policies that don't seem valid to you appeal to others. |
| 220s | This will allow you to explore alternatives, |
| 222s | evaluate your own choices, |
| 224s | and ultimately help you make more informed decisions. |
| 228s | This five-step process is just one tool, |
| 231s | and it certainly won't eradicate difficult decisions from our lives. |
| 235s | But it can help us increase the number of positive choices we make. |
| 240s | Critical thinking can give us the tools to sift through a sea of information |
| 244s | and find what we're looking for. |
| 246s | And if enough of us use it, |
| 247s | it has the power to make the world a more reasonable place. |
