“Critical thinking is the use of those cognitive skills or strategies that increase the probability of a desired outcome. It is...thinking that is purposeful, reasoned, and goal directed - the kind of thinking involved in solving problems, formulating inferences, calculating likelihoods, and making decisions, when the thinker is using skills that are thoughtful and effective for the particular context and type of thinking task” - Diane Halpern.
“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.” - The Center of Critical Thinking
“Thinking about thinking, while thinking in order to think better.” – Richard Paul the Director of Research and Professional Development at the Center for Critical Thinking.
“Critical thinking is the identification and evaluation of evidence to guide decision making. A critical thinker uses broad in-depth analysis of evidence to make decisions and communicate his/her beliefs clearly and accurately.” – The Critical Thinking Company
“Critical thinking is reasonable, reflective thinking that is focused on deciding what to believe and do.” – Robert H. Ennis, Author of The Cornell Critical Thinking Tests
“Critical thinking is that mode of thinking - about any subject, content, or problem - in which the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking by skillfully taking charge of the structures inherent in thinking and imposing intellectual standards upon them.” - Richard Paul and Linda Elder, The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools, Foundation for Critical Thinking Press, 2008
“Critical Thinking is the use of reason to attempt to determine relative truth.” – Me
“You are not thinking unless what goes in your head mixes up with everything else and comes back out for other purposes.” – My mom
