Category: critical thinking

For this critical thinking activity, I decided to watch the episodes of a Reality TV show and a News show whose the main purposes are entertainment and the provocation of emotions. These were the recent episodes of Keeping Up with the Kardashians and Saturday Night Live. Since these two shows are primarily created for the viewers to have a good time without overwhelming ones mind with complicated or negative information, the emotions that I received were relaxation and enjoyment. I believe that the provocation of these emotions was planned by the producers of both shows. For instance, the idea of KUWTK is to present the real life of one big and happy family that goes through the challenges, experiences success and failure, and spreads love within itself (Willen & Baragona, 2020). Therefore, we can relate to their experiences, laugh and cry with them, and detach ourselves from personal problems.

The same thing is with the Saturday Night Live show. While this is a television program that delivers the latest news and presents viewers with interesting information, it is also entertaining and fun to watch (Sagheer, n.d.). In the show, the emotions of joy and happiness are emphasized by the use of jokes and fun storytelling throughout the episode. It is totally informal, and the host of the show constantly tries to engage the audience by asking funny questions. Therefore, all this creates a sense of relaxation. Thus, it can be stated that the language that the show uses is an essential influence on the overall perception.

After watching both episodes, I do not feel like I was led to a specific conclusion and I do not feel that there was a purpose to doing so. As mentioned earlier, this kind of show wants to deliver emotion and encourage people to appreciate the moments of joy and happiness, like the ones that appear when watching the show. Consequently, even though the delivered information is entertaining, it is presented in a meaningful context that encourages us to reflect on our life, experiences, and relationships. The information that was presented during both of the episodes was very descriptive and persuasive which can be seen from the fact that the viewers understand what is the main issue of the episode and what topics are being discussed. However, these two shows are not educational or scientific so they are not designed to be very factual and highly informative.

References

Sagheer, S. (n.d.). Purpose and functions of news  explained. Web.

Willen, C., Baragona, L. (2020). 20 surprising things you probably didnt know about Keeping Up with the Kardashians.Insider. Web.

I have gained so much academically from studying this writing course, and I believe that the skills and knowledge gained from Clouse and Grevstads The Student Writer: Editor and Critic will go a long way in increasing my level of understanding texts and data in other courses unrelated to writing and comprehension.

At the beginning of the course, I had only fundamental and unpolished skills in various writing areas that the course has gone a long way to improve. As a student, I would find it very hard to come up with competent and coherent essays, and this course has revealed my area of weakness. Through learning how to organize and draft my essays, I have developed skills, and many of my writings  in both this course and others  show considerable improvement.

Conversely, there are still areas of weakness that I feel I need to improve on. One of these areas is writing descriptive essays, as I have always felt that description is part of all other writing and does not exist on its own. Therefore, writing a descriptive essay has proved a little challenging for me.

I intend to improve my critical thinking and writing skills. One of the measures that I have resolved to take is to get myself a copy of Clouse and Grevstads The Student Writer: Editor and Critic for my home library. I feel that the book contains critical thinking and writing information that will be of great value even beyond this course and even beyond formal schooling. I intend to make it my reference book on the subjects explored therein. I will also continue practicing my writing, especially on the subject topics I have described as my weaknesses.

The concept of utility takes an important place in the economic theory. In context of marketing, the theory of utility is used in practice in order to facilitate the sales of the company and to adjust the business plan with the market demand and customers preferences. The concept of utility plays a vital role in the small firms functioning as well.

Utility is the use or satisfaction a person gets from a product (What is marketing?, n.d., p.14). Taking into account that the search and satisfaction of customers needs are the fundaments in the profitability and overall effectiveness of the business, the efforts should be made by the firm to find the market segment in which it can provide utility to the customers. In this respect, it would be logical to quote John Mackey, co-founder and CEO of Whole Foods Market, who says

For us, our most important stakeholder is not our stockholders, it is our customers. Were in the business to serve the needs and desires of our core customer base (Boone, 2012, p. 39).

The theory usually defines the four types of utility: form, time, place, and possession. However, the task utility is sometimes marked out by marketers. It assumes providing some service to the customer.

In order to define which types of utility are relevant to the small firms, we need to consider the market structure in which they mostly operate. Boone (2012) states that the traditional economic analysis views competition as a battle among companies in the same industry (direct competition) or among substitutable goods (indirect competition) (p.65-66).

The majority of small businesses function under the conditions of monopolistic competition defined as the market structure with the numerous competitors selling differentiated products (Monopolistic competition, n.d.). In order to survive, the firms must differentiate their product to make it stands out on the market by emphasizing the benefits it can provide to customers.

There are four types of utility relevant to small businesses: form, time, possession, and task. The place utility may also add value to the small firms products but its role is substantially lesser in comparison with the other four and it rarely contributes to the good or service differentiation of the small businesses.

Form Utility assumes that a product must be processed into a form that the customer wants or needs (What is marketing?, n.d., p.14). For example, bakeries, delicatessens, or cafes benefit consumers by selling them products ready for use; they turn the separate ingredients into the integral product. The customization of good is one of the features of the form utility (Winsor et al., 2004). That is why the form utility prevails in the monopolistic competition.

Possession utility establishes legal ownership of a product which is supported by the receipt (What is marketing?, n.d., p.15). For instance, a lot of small businesses operating in e-commerce provide the customers with the opportunity to use the debit electronic payment systems such as PayPal. The use of the system simplifies the process of payment, thus creating benefit to the customer.

Time Utility could be described as being in the right place at the right time when a customer is ready to purchase a product (What is marketing?, n.d., p.16). Undoubtedly, the debit electronic payment systems also represent the bright examples of the method of saving time while making a transaction. Besides, a lot of small businesses place their retail outlets nearby the potential customers residence. In such a way, they save the free time of customers who do not have to spend hours to get to the bakery, for instance.

Finally, the task utility adds value by providing customers with special services. For example, the customers go to hairdressing or the beauty salon because they do not possess certain skills.

In summary, the understanding of the customers needs plays an important role in the survival of the small firms. It is the factor that motivates them to add value to their products by using form, possession, task, and time utilities.

References

Boone, L. E. (2012). Contemporary marketing, 16^th edition. Stamford, USA: Cengage Learning.

Monopolistic competition. (n.d.). Web.

Winsor, R. D., Sheth, J. N. & Manolis, Ch. (2004). Differentiating goods and services retailing using form and possession utilities. Journal of Business Research, 57, 249-255.

What is marketing? (n.d.). Web.

Critical thinking is a process that implies the use of reasoning to make decisions in an informed and systematic manner. Important aspects of critical thinking refer to the identification, analysis, and solving of problems; within these aspects, analysis is essential for determining tradeoffs and contributing to making better decisions overall. Another component of critical thinking that can enhance the approach of determining tradeoffs refers to evaluation, which takes place when an individual gets an understanding of a subject and analyzes all possible alternatives for achieving the best objectives, as suggested by Hammong, Keeney, and Raiffa (2002) in Smart Choices. Based on the evaluation, it is easier to decide which goals should be prioritized and which should be discarded.

The advantages of approaching tradeoffs through the suggested method (the Even Swap) are associated with a better analysis of possible alternatives for achieving the established objectives and their prioritization. Such a method is beneficial for its practical application to determine and make tradeoffs within the context of set objectives as well as the range of alternatives to them. Essentially, Mankins and Steele (2006) proposed a method for decision-makers to think about the value of each objective and come to a conclusion. The authors underlined the importance of integrating strategic planning in the process of decision-making to avoid issues that complicate the process overall. They found that businesses that think through about every implication of their actions are more likely to make effective strategic decisions compared to companies that only use the traditional model of planning (Mankins & Steele, 2006).

Rogers and Blenko (2006) identified four bottlenecks within the process of decision-making, such as global versus local, center versus business unites, function versus function, and inside versus outside partners (p. 52). Through exploring the mentioned bottlenecks, the authors explained how to make more efficient and informed decisions to achieve organizational goals. Making good decisions is a vital step for any business that wants to become successful; although, the bottlenecks can hinder this process by making it unclear what roles and responsibilities should be distributed among key decision-makers. Thus, an efficient division of roles and responsibilities can improve performance and avoid bottlenecks that hinder business effectiveness.

As mentioned by Davenport (2009) in the Harvard Business Review article Make better decisions, there should be a new landscape of decision-making that integrates such components as analytics, small-group processes, and automation. In my experience, the lack of automation has been a tremendous bottleneck in the decision-making process. For instance, when there is a problem that needs immediate resolution, managers spend too much time on unnecessary tasks such as sending out notifications or filing paperwork instead of focusing on the problem. Automation is a great solution to this bottleneck because it can provide decision-makers with more time to dedicate to analysis and evaluation of alternatives and determining tradeoffs. Another bottleneck in decision-making is associated with too many people participating in the process, which leads to the unclear distribution of roles and responsibilities as mentioned by Rogers and Blenko (2006). Making decisions is smaller groups with fewer people will allow for the clearer identification of roles and responsibilities as well as the better analysis and evaluation of multiple alternatives to agree. It is also important to note that small-group processes proposed by Davenport (2009) can eliminate premature convergence on decisions.

References

Davenport, T. (2009). Make better decisions. Harvard Business Review, 87(11), 117-123.

Hammond, J., Keeney, R., & Raiffa, H. (2002). Smart choices: A practical guide to making better life decisions. Portland, OR: Broadway Books.

Mankins, M., & Steele, R. (2006). Stop making plans; start making decisions. Harvard Business Review, 84(1), 76-84.

Rogers, P., & Blenko, M. (2006). Who has the D? How clear decision roles enhance organizational performance. Harvard Business Review, 81(1), 52-61.

Introduction

The value of critical thinking is a fact. Several learners undertake learning experiences that include critical thinking. This is because, in society, making the right decision is something that bothers many most of the time as it makes some people fail to decide at all for fear of making the wrong decision that will end up haunting them later in their lives. So, the decision comes out as a thoughtful process that entails a choice for acting or even thinking. From this, the issue of ethics comes in, since it is expected that every decision is taken to serve the general public good. Critical thinking also comes in handy since it aids in breaking the issue at hand into parts for better understanding. Thus, it is the role of the critical thinker to make sure that the evaluation drawn from such a breakdown is defensible (Paul and Elder, 2002).

Best practices

Competency in equal measure forms another important facet in the world of critical thinking and decision making. For instance, some of the established qualities of critical thinking involve gathering the needed relevant information for effective drawing relevant conclusions (Austin and Freely, 2009).

Own native egocentrism does not have a place in critical thinking as it may deter objectivity; which is highly desirable in the domain of critical thinking (Chickering and Gamson1987). This is why it is good for an effective critical thinker to be well aware of his or her native egocentric and sociocentric tendencies so as they do not impair objective thinking that would lead to a better decision being made.

Some critical thinkers underrate the role of effective communication as exhibited in debates. Debates help in openly finding the other side of the story (Austin and Freely, 2009). This goes to a greater extent in making one who engages in critical thinking to have an objective considered conclusion upon which a considered reasonable conclusion can be drawn. In debates, the pros and cons of a particular issue are presented.

Fairness is a crucial issue in critical thinking and decision making. For any thinking to be considered fair there is a need to ask ourselves whether all the other points of view have been considered. These also include the awareness of the other factors that might be influencing a particular decision. Also, for any thinking and decision to occur, it is important to consider all the other divergent views about the issue (Brooke, 2006). It is equally of great importance to critically assess the effects of a particular decision on the various stakeholders. In essence, fair critical thinking may be impeded due to the failure of the thinker to recognize the various fallacies that may have sneaked through the process.

Recognition of ethical issues is equally of great essence in critical thinking and decision making. Before a decision is made, one should ask themselves whether such a decision can harm somebody else. Every decision made must first of all be for the general good (Paul, 1990). For example, the use of propaganda is usually considered unethical but it ceases to be bad, for instance, when used in media adverts advocating for, say, prevention of HIV among the population, etc. Here we see propaganda being employed for the general good.

Getting the facts right and evaluating other alternative actions and means play another important role in critical thinking and ethical decision making (Jones and Brown, 1993). For this, delving into both known and unknown facts should be the first consideration. And, is only from an exhaustive collection of facts that one should be able to make a decision (Bruning, 2005). It is unethical to make a decision derived from scanty facts. Various options for acting should be incorporated. In equal measure, evaluating the various options is not enough; there is a need to try and identify other creative options. This evaluation puts one in good stead to pick the best option among many to serve the common good.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it can be said that critical thinking and decision making are delicate issues that need diligence in executing. It is crucial to consider that a decision should be reached only if it serves the wider good.

References

Austin, J., &Freely, David L. S. (2009). Argumentation and Debate. Boston, MA: Thomson place Press.

Brooke, S. L. (2006). Using the case method to teach online classes: Promoting Socratic dialogue and critical thinking skills. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 18(2), 142-149. Web.

Bruning, K. (2005). The role of critical thinking in the online learning environment. International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning, 2 (5). Web.

Chickering, A. & Gamson, Z. (1987). Seven principles of good practice in undergraduate education. AAHE Bulletin, 39, 3-7.

Jones, S. & Brown, L. (1993). Alternative views on defining critical thinking through the nursing process. Holistic Nursing Practice, 7(3), 71-76. Web.

Paul, R. (1990). Critical thinking: What every person needs to survive in a rapidly changing world. Rohnert park, CA. Sonoma State University Press.

Paul, R. & Elder, L. (2002). Miniature guide for students on how to study and learn a discipline using critical thinking concepts and tools. Dillon Beach, CA: The Foundation for Critical Thinking.

Introduction

Assisted suicide has become common in the current society due to the challenges that are being experienced in life. Suicide occurs when a person decides to intentionally kill themselves. On the other hand, assisted suicide is when somebody else takes the responsibility of assisting somebody else to die. This is something that is obviously beyond human comprehension and should be discouraged at all costs (Hawkins, 2002). Suicide in its self has never been legal, an individual who is found by the court to have attempted suicide but failed, will have to face the necessary charges. In the same case, anybody who is found to be involved in activities of making another person take their lives should be charged by the court. In as much as a person may have that desire to die, a third party is not in the capacity to assist them terminate their lives. There is a close relationship between assisted suicide and euthanasia. The difference may be due to the reasons that may be prompting a person into it. Euthanasia has been legalized in some countries especially to patients that have terminal diseases. This is usually decided upon after considering a number of factors.

The same reasons that have been raised against the legalization of euthanasia in some countries are the same ones that have been raised against assisted suicide. Improvements that have been made in the field of science and technology have made it possible for people to live longer. In as much as this is having a positive implication on some people, it is causing pain and suffering to some people who have lost hope in life. There is a need for people to be assured of the benefits that come with life rather than look for a solution of terminating their lives. There is usually a meaning that is attached to life which cannot be compromised by the temporal discomforts that may come with life. Assisted suicide basically means that one is going through a situation that they find unbearable. They may share such with someone else who may feel for them with the aim of providing a permanent solution to them. Life is an experience with different cycles, every cycle has its own experiences that should be embraced and a solution identified. It is believed that there is no good or bad experience that happens to someone that has never happened before to somebody else.

However tough the situation may be, there is usually a solution to it. Suicide has never been and will never be a solution to any kind of problem. One thing that the people that assist others to commit suicide forget is that they are still alive. They may in fact be haunted by their evil acts which will basically make their lives uncomfortable. In as much as one may get to know and understand what the other person is going through, they are not in the capacity to encourage and assist them to die (Gorsuch, 2006). Suicide is in itself a selfish decision that is taken by a person who cares less about the other people around. Assisted suicide hence means that a third party is supporting the selfish nature of another individual by encouraging and even assisting them to terminate their lives. The best assistance they can probably offer them is to advice them on the available solutions so that they live their lives as an example to the rest. When one is given a chance to experience all the negatives that life brings them and subsequently overcomes them, it becomes a source of solace and comfort to another person that may be faced by a similar situation. Their lives will be of importance to the generations to come who will also have a reason to face it with the full assurance that somebody else also succeeded through the tough seasons.

Legalizing assisted suicide will like telling the upcoming generation that the only solution to lives issues is to die. This will hence lead to a situation where by the young people that are supposed to reason and come with solutions are denied the chance do so. They will be used to the trend of basically having a good reason to die and requesting somebody else to help them accomplish it. It may also create a scenario where by people will start killing others without any reason and claim that they were requested by the deceased to do so. Since the main witness to the case has passed on, the court may not have a basis to determine whether the action was done legally or not. This will hence be a loophole for some people to payback on their enemies in the name of assisted suicide. Suicide is something personal and nobody will be ready to go through all the legal procedures of signing papers in agreement of the action they are about to engage in.

Anti-thesis

Death is inevitable and anybody that has been born will definitely have to die at some point of time. What makes the difference in life is the kind of death that one will experience. Some people die a painful death while others a peaceful one. This may however have nothing to do with the kind of life that one lived. Both the people that are referred to as good and bad may experience a similar type of death. This hence means that whether one is assisted to commit suicide or not, the end result is that they will have to die. Life comes with its own pressures, some that are manageable and others that are just too difficult to handle. For many that decide to persevere through the ordeals of life end up dying a more painful death than probably those who chose to die prematurely. Life is becoming more complicated as the days go by; one realizes by the end of the day that their efforts to stay alive are frustrated by the ever increasing challenges of life. Denying death to a person that has a desire to die is making their latter life more unbearable. This is basically because their attitudes towards life have already changed and there is nothing much that can be done to revert that.

There are a good number of people that are simply living because they have no alternative in their lives. They are not in anyway productive considering their state of mind. They best they can do is to use the little available resources and hence exerting more pressure on them. A person whose mind is occupied by death may desire no better solution than to die. Helping the person to live is like multiplying their frustrations. They may become a nuisance to the people around them and hence transferring their stress. By helping the person to die, it would be a great relief not only to them but also to the people that are around them (Paterson, 2008). They will not have to be nagged and waste their precious resources on someone that is not appreciating it. The challenges that come with life are not easy and not anybody can manage them. It will hence be profitable if the law acted fairly by allowing those that are willing and ready to face life to do it and also allow those that want it terminated to do so. As a matter of fact, nobody ever choose to be born, however there are a lot of decisions that one has to make for them to live a certain kind of life. Once an individual has passed the childhood stage, they are given the authority to make and implement their decisions. The same legal procedures that allow adults to make such decisions should also be related to the right to die. Denying someone that is willing and ready to die without giving them a solution to the same is like acting selfishly.

Synthesis

Assisted suicide is a trend that the society will have to bear with even as the standards of life change. It has become obvious that the issues of life are becoming more complicated and people seem to get no solution to it. Mostly people are advised to go for therapies and counseling when they are encountered with such tough situations. Unlike in the past where such services were given free of charge, people have to pay for them and hence making it even more expensive (Sanbar, 2004). For those that are able to afford them, or are willing to sacrifice to obtain help, they are given almost impossible remedies that they have to strictly follow for positive results. This basically means that even after spending a substantial amount of money to obtain a solution to their problems, it is never a guarantee that they will recover from the same. Some of the modern remedies aimed at making people accept and recover from what is happening to them are difficult to adapt and hence making their latter state almost worse than the former.

On the other hand, there is no telling of when there will be an end to lives challenges. Most people in modern society have become escapist and not ready to face the situations of life one at a time. These are the things that pile up in their minds and think of obtaining a solution in an instant. Instead of assisting such people to terminate their lives, it will be better if they are encouraged to take every step at a time. If their situation is beyond recovery, then they should be made to stay alive and tell about the story of their lives. This will be helpful in protecting the future generation from applying escapism in their lives and learning to deal with every situation that comes their way. From what has been observed, there is usually a circle that develops in a certain generation due to the conduct of the past generation. For instance, suicide cases may be reported in a particular lineage. This is basically because of the decision that was taken by their ancestor who saw it as the best way of solving their problems. The very first person in the lineage that resorted to suicide implied to the upcoming generation that there is no other solution to their problems rather than committing suicide.

If such a trend has been observed and continues to haunt many other generations, it basically means that legalizing assisted suicide will be ruining the upcoming generation. The government will be advising individuals that they really dont have to face their situations; they can escape them by getting someone to assist them to die. Suicide is a selfish decision that leaves the dependants of the deceased with a lot of problems. They are basically made to suffer for the consequences that they would have avoided. For instance, a man who may be the main breadwinner of the home may accumulate a lot of debts during their life. The pressure becomes too much where by they are not only able to pay the debts but that they are unable to provide for their family needs. When such a person contemplates on suicide, it means that they are handing over their problems to their needy family (Snyder, 2002). This are the people that the man had a responsibility of taking care of and instead of fulfilling his duties and obligations, he chooses to die and let them find a way of sorting them out. The government is endowed with the responsibility of taking care of all citizens. However by legalizing assisted suicide, they will be supporting the idea of allowing other innocent people to suffer for the mistakes they never made.

Legalizing assisted suicide may also affect the economy of a country to a larger level. In fact it will be a strategy that will be used by people to take loans that may never be repaid. It will give people the ability to determine when they wish to die and hence making all the prior preparations (Bilirakis, 1998). In as much as the government will be doing it for the main reason of relieving a small category of selfish people from their lives frustrations they will at the same time making a larger category of hardworking people to suffer losses. It will be a shortcut that will be adapted by the lazy in the society to eat up what the hardworking people have labored for and then requesting to be killed. This will kill the morale of the hardworking in the society as well as minimize on the level of trust that the organizations that are involved in providing loans have towards their clients. There will be fewer developments even as people operate more on a personal basis rather than the successful co-operate strategy.

Conclusion

For assisted suicide to have positive implications on the people that are longing for such a premature death, then the practice need to be publicized rather than done in secret. Just like any other decision that affects a larger community of people requires several signatures, people that are to take such a decision need to consult with their family and the other people that concern them. This will be for the reason of ensuring that nobody is made to suffer for the consequences of such an abrupt death. Most people that are tired with life and want to die may never wish the information to leak to a third party. They know fully well that their decision is a form of escapism from the realities of life. If the individuals feel that it is the best decision that they have to make, then they should make it public and ensure that nobody else will suffer when they are away.

Reference list

Bilirakis, M., (1998). Assisted Suicide  Legal, Medicine, Ethical and Social Issues: Hearing Before the Committee on Commerce, U. S. House of Representatives. New York: DIANE Publishing.

Gorsuch, N., (2006). The future of assisted suicide and euthanasia. New York: Princeton University Press.

Hawkins, G., (2002). Physician-assisted suicide. Michigan: Greenhaven Press.

Paterson, C., (2008). Assisted suicide and euthanasia: a natural law ethics approach. California: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.

Sanbar, S., (2004). Legal medicine. London: Elsevier Health Sciences.

Snyder, L., (2002). Assisted suicide: finding common ground. Indiana: Indiana University Press.

Currently, along with growing attention to artificial intelligence (AI), a new focus is emerging in many areas of thinking about human intellect. Scientists fear that AI in the future may cause a singularity when the development of technology becomes irreversible and uncontrollable, which will lead to incomprehensible changes in civilization (Spector & Ma, 2019). Critical thinking is the subject of the study of ideas about the content of intellect, which can be associated with research in psychology, philosophy of mind, education, epistemology, and others (Spector & Ma, 2019).

Apart from it, critical thinking is one of four crucial 21st-century skills, which, aside from it, include collaboration, communication, and creativity (Wechsler et al., 2018). With respect that the broad concept of critical thinking, many of its definitions exist. In addition, the abilities, skills, and modes of reasoning, which a subject must demonstrate in order to be considered a critical thinker are further examined. The synthesized definition includes analytical and evaluative thinking, a specific algorithmic process, which consists of the ability to evaluate arguments and conclusions correctly.

Critical thinking as an analytical procedure includes not only evaluative criteria but also generative, or, in other words, creative dimension. As a consequence, critical thinking is characterized as rational, reflective thought, which evaluates various aspects and is aimed at achieving a goal (Hitchcock, 2020). On the other hand, critical thinking is seen as in a suitable way to organize argumentation and emphasizing various measures, which reasoning must satisfy in order to serve as a valid basis for thoughtful action (Hitchcock, 2020). As a result, in both cases, the ability to critically assess the perception of the surrounding world is emphasized.

Critical thinking is also defined in terms of the abilities of the individual. In particular, Spector and Ma (2019) argue that critical thinking is a multifaceted and multidimensional human ability associated with predispositions and other variables such as knowledge, motivation, and context. This approach draws on lessons learned, different types of investigation, research, the examination of evidence, argumentation, verification of conclusions, and rethinking of thoughts and assumptions (Spector & Ma, 2019).

Developing appropriate critical thinking skills allows a person to achieve the desired result in a difficult situation. Consequently, critical thinking is enhanced by the evolution of cognitive abilities, such as metacognition and self-regulation (Spector & Ma, 2019). In particular, it is necessary to understand and perceive our own thoughts and be able to control the quality of cognitive processes and make appropriate changes.

To summarize, a synthesized definition of critical thinking includes analytical thinking, a multidimensional human ability to correctly evaluate conclusions and arguments, which has links to variables such as knowledge, motivation, and context. While there are many definitions of critical thinking, a single description remains elusive. Nevertheless, the development of the AI system and life in the 21st century, when critical thinking is one of the essential skills, give an occasion to the improvement and development of critical thinking. As a consequence, everyone should determine critical thinking for themselves.

References

Hitchcock, D. (2020). Critical thinking. In E. N. Zalta (Ed.), The Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Web.

Spector, J. M., & Ma, S. (2019). Inquiry and critical thinking skills for the next generation: From artificial intelligence back to human intelligence. Smart Learning Environments, 6(1), 1-11. Web.

Wechsler, S. M., Saiz, C., Rivas, S. F., Vendramini, C. M. M., Almeida, L. S., Mundim, M. C., & Franco, A. (2018). Creative and critical thinking: Independent or overlapping components? Thinking Skills and Creativity, 27, 114-122. Web.

Decision-making is critical in everyday life for personal and professional success. Decisions have a significant impact on ones quality of life. For better life choices, critical thinking must be integrated into decision-making. According to Dill and Zambrano (2020), critical thinking involves scrutinizing provided facts to make the best decision to address challenging issues. Individuals want to make deliberate decisions to live the most meaningful, prosperous, and happy lives possible. This is only achievable when people can make rational decisions and choices that are informed and capable of producing positive results (Albanese & Paturas, 2018). As such, to live happily and without stress, it is, therefore, that one develops critical thinking and a mindset to make rational choices. Through critical examination, people distinguish between conflicting claims to be true and identify which explanations and points of view they can trust and which they should be skeptical of.

Furthermore, critical analysis in social sciences is essential for understanding individual situations and how to help the common good better. Speaking with people from various cultural and religious backgrounds has forced me to critically evaluate my colleagues and friends with whom I spent most of my time. Throughout my school life, I have met people from different communities and cultures and realized that people face different challenges and issues (Spector & Ma, 2019). As a result, I have learned that I should not treat one person the same way I treat another.

However, biases about issues in our society can be blinding, and many people follow them without question. Critically analyzing and attempting to comprehend the origin and spread of such biases reveals a completely different story. I have discovered that many biases in an individual or an ethnically and religiously diverse community are usually based on a small group. The biases then spread to the rest of the community, where people assume that people from a typical community share the same characteristics. Unfortunately, this is often false and can have far-reaching consequences for the underprivileged community. After critically examining my biases regarding social science issues, I recognize the importance of policies and legal frameworks to combat myths and stereotypes about minority and diverse communities. Legal and policy frameworks ensure that situations encountered in various communities are not viewed as discriminatory terms but rather critically examined to identify a source and a remedy for better social living. People would continue to condemn individuals to stereotypes that are simply false if they did not critically evaluate their biases.

In any workplace or organization, diversity is essential. A diverse workforce represents different ethnicities and cultures while adding insights, skills, and knowledge to the organization (Gomez & Bernet, 2019). Dealing with social science issues necessitates conversing with people of various genders and from various social, cultural, and religious backgrounds. Professionals will be better equipped to present issues and develop viable solutions by ensuring that diversity is well implemented in social science practices. For example, the gender pay gap must be addressed by someone who has critically examined how diversity affects the issue. Different cultures have different ideas about how women should be paid and how they should work. As a result, critical analysis of diversity in societal issues is critical to developing appropriate policies for a better world.

Critical thinking is necessary in human life in order to better understand our surroundings. It would be unjust to oneself not to question why things are the way they are. Without critical thinking, there would be no progress because people would accept the status quo at the expense of equality and innovation. Before jumping to conclusions in the field of social science, I must think critically and analyze the individual situation. Putting ones biases aside and focusing on understanding situations can mean the difference between success and failure. Diversity is essential for any professions success. Diverse people bring new perspectives and insights to existing problems. Success can be achieved by critically analyzing situations and involving diverse minds.

References

Albanese, J., & Paturas, J. (2018). The importance of critical thinking skills in disaster management. Journal of Business Continuity & Emergency Planning, 11(4), 326-334.

Dill, B. T., & Zambrana, R. E. (2020). Critical thinking about inequality: An emerging lens. In Feminist Theory Reader (pp. 108-116). Routledge.

Gomez, L. E., & Bernet, P. (2019). Diversity improves performance and outcomes. Journal of the National Medical Association, 111(4), 383392. Web.

Spector, J. M., & Ma, S. (2019). Inquiry and critical thinking skills for the next generation: from artificial intelligence back to human intelligence. Smart Learning Environments, 6(1), 1-11.

Introduction

Present-day individuals are faced with an infinite flow of information coming from various sources, such as TV advertisements, political claims of presidential candidates, or news articles on websites. Not all of these messages are true and logical, so people have to treat information critically to avoid being deceived. Therefore, critical thinking skills and the ability to apply logic to assess information and make decisions are crucial for people nowadays. This paper will review the concept of critical thinking and types of logic, as well as key steps in identifying logical arguments. In the end, the practical application of logical reasoning skills will be discussed.

Critical Thinking and Logic

Critical thinking is not just thinking since it involves analyzing information and identifying logical links between ideas. It is not about merely memorizing and recalling facts; instead, a critically thinking person relates new facts to the already existing knowledge and uses new information to make rational decisions and predict possible consequences. Furthermore, a critical thinker can identify and evaluate arguments in other peoples speech, as well as find inconsistencies between them and common logical fallacies. At the same time, a critical thinker is able to demonstrate valid logical reasoning in constructing his or her own arguments.

Critical thinking is based on logic, which is the study of correct reasoning principles. Logic studies the process of argumentation, that is, constructing valid arguments to support a particular idea. This process includes taking a certain position, making claims that reflect it, and supporting the claims with reasons backed up with evidence. Argumentation is used to persuade someone, explain something, reveal the truth, and make inferences.

Logic uses two methods of reasoning: deductive and inductive reasoning. Deductive reasoning means making a specific conclusion based on general premises. Inductive reasoning, on the contrary, involves making a generalized conclusion based on specific premises. Logic is also divided into two categories: formal and informal logic. Formal logic uses deductive reasoning and is focused on the form of arguments rather than their content. It means that formal logic is not concerned with the truthfulness of arguments; rather, it checks whether the structure of the argument is valid or invalid. Formal logical arguments follow such rules: they have at least two premises, the first of which marks a formal logical argument, and the second determines the type of argument and how its validity is defined. In contrast, informal logic uses inductive reasoning and is focused on assessing to what extent evidence is weighty and relevant. Sometimes, informal arguments can be translated into formal arguments to check the validity of their form.

Logical Arguments

Before evaluating arguments, one should learn how to identify them. The argument always has a point of view and a conclusion that is supported by evidence. Before searching for arguments, it is necessary to make sure that the given information has the purpose of persuading the audience. For example, articles in an entertainment magazine usually do not intend to convince readers of anything, so it is no use searching for arguments there. On the other hand, an election campaign is designed to persuade citizens to vote for a particular candidate, and, therefore, it should present arguments in support of this person. If the information aims at persuading, one should identify what its main point is. Sometimes, premises of the argument are indicated by such words as because, since, given that, and assuming that, while the conclusion of the argument is identified by such words as therefore, consequently, hence, and thus. Drawing a diagram showing connections between premises and the conclusion may be helpful in further evaluation of the argument.

To evaluate the argument, one should pay attention to evidence used to support it, as well as counterexamples and counterarguments. First of all, the argument should be clearly presented so that the audience can easily identify the authors position. Further, it is necessary to assess whether the evidence used is credible, relevant to the argument, and supportive of the conclusion. Counterarguments and counterexamples should also be assessed, and if the argument is strong, they will not weaken or destroy it. Finally, one should make sure that the argument has no logical fallacies. Common errors in logical reasoning include circular reasoning, fallacies of relevance, and semantic fallacies.

While arguments are a powerful tool of persuasion, there are other means serving the same purpose. They include euphemisms, dysphemism, persuasive comparisons, explanations, and definitions, stereotypes, innuendoes, downplayers, proof surrogates, and hyperbole. These types of words and phrases do not use logic to persuade; rather, they manipulate the emotional coloring of information. Although the appeal to emotions is often used for persuasion, a critical thinker should not be guided by emotions but assess information critically.

Practical Application of Logic

Logic has a wide application in various spheres of life. Formal logic is used in games, essay writing, answering test questions, and programming. People apply informal logic in everyday life while assessing the information they get from various sources, such as TV, advertisements, and other people. Informal logic is also used in legal reasoning since each party in the court tries to persuade the judges of the invalidity of the opposite partys evidence and reach a favorable verdict. Public policy analysis also involves informal logic since government officials should identify problems, find solutions, and assess their consequences.

Conclusion

This paper discussed the concepts of critical thinking and logic. Deductive and inductive approaches to logical reasoning were described, as well as the difference between formal and informal logic. Further, recommendations about how to identify and evaluate the argument were given. In the end, the paper reviewed some practical applications of formal and informal logic, such as essay writing, legal reasoning, and public policy analysis.

The issues of human dignity and commitment to justice are widely discussed in Christian literature. The importance of these two notions for the promotion of the common good was specifically emphasized by Pope Paul IV. In his works, he claims that the inviolable nature of the former provision leads to its interrelation with the latter since it is necessary for everyones well-being (Dignitatis Humanae; Populorum Progressio). To fully understand the meaning of his writings on the subject, it is vital to consider them through the lens of critical thinking and logically reveal their co-dependence with proper reasoning.

The effects of human dignity on the promotion of the common good can be easily seen from the needs of people positively correlating with the objective. On the one hand, a person is supposed to be guided by the so-called responsible freedom, which is inalienable, and make their judgment on its grounds (Dignitatis Humanae). On the other hand, the consequences of the exercise of this right are connected to the progressive development of all peoples in the world (Populorum Progressio). This consideration is particularly true for the citizens who are willing to actively improve their human qualities and seek a larger share of the benefits provided by the government (Populorum Progressio). These claims of Pope Paul IV, when combined, present a clear picture of ones influence on the world, which, in turn, grants them more significant opportunities. As a result, the whole society gains from the activity of those its members who incessantly strive for perfection.

The second link between human dignity and the common good was established with the help of the desire to seek truth alongside the need to combine the efforts of all men to adequately address this task. The religion views the former as a moral obligation rather than a simple right, and, therefore, it highlights the importance of human nature in contrast to perceived responsibility instilled by others (Dignitatis Humanae). In turn, the significance of acting together is impossible to underestimate for the promotion of religious values and norms, which correspond to the truth in the first place (Populorum Progressio). From this point of view, the social question related to any type of peoples challenges in the present-day world can be resolved only in the case if they start to help one another. This initiative should be based on their improved understanding of everyones role in the matter. Hence, Pope Paul IV, who attempted to connect the notions of human dignity and assistance based on moral convictions, greatly contributed to the field.

The subsequent conclusion on the importance of participation, which is the key to prosperity, was also contrasted by the need for attention of men to one another in the works of this religious figure. In other words, he insisted on the necessity for everyone to hear his brothers plea and answer it lovingly, confirming the role of human qualities in the establishment of unity among all peoples (Populorum Progressio). However, the practical implementation of this rule requires not only the inclusion of everyone in the process but also the understanding of the divine law as the principal guidance. As follows from the writings of Pope Paul IV, it is objective and universal, and directing and governing the universe is Gods duty (Dignitatis Humanae). Considering this expression, it can be concluded that the norms of human life related to dignity are connected to the need to spread wisdom and love, which can consequently improve the situation of many people.

Finally, the conscience as a means to transmit this law alongside the concerns of the church regarding the struggles of the developing nations add to the importance of both human dignity and commitment to justice. From this perspective, the common good can be achieved only through the acknowledgment of the true nature of people, which is divine, and the use of this notion as the grounds for further progress of humanity. According to Pope Paul IV, the purpose of life of every human being is the activity targeting the need for justice and peace (Dignitatis Humanae; Populorum Progressio). In this way, he sees the task of awakening in the People of God full awareness of their mission as a priority, since the well-being of the civilization depends on it (Populorum Progressio). Therefore, the above considerations contribute to the central role of human dignity in the promotion of justice and, consequently, the creation of a better world for everyone.

In conclusion, the critical analysis of the works of Pope Paul IV showed the connection between the notion of human dignity and the common good based on justice. This claim is confirmed by the responsible freedom of people alongside the desire to seek truth and the need to combine efforts for this objective. Moreover, the participation in the initiatives intended to improve everyones living conditions is complemented by the guidance presented by the divine law. Thus, the inviolable dignity of a human being contributes to the common good through a commitment to justice.

Works Cited

Dignitatis Humanae. The Holy See, n.d.

Populorum Progressio. The Holy See, n.d.