Critical Thinking and Decision Making Essay

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Introduction

In my first journal entry, I defined critical thinking as the art of reasoning, where solving an issue or getting to the bottom of an issue involves the taking of account of all sides in question. After learning more about critical thinking, my definition might not change as much, i. Instead, I can only add onto it. Therefore, critical thinking is the art of reasoning where perceived wisdom and knowledge is carefully challenged and questioned, and data of all sides considered and analyzed factually. In the initial definition, the best part of the text that were reflected is that deep reflection of thoughts is considered while taking into account information from all sides of a situation while trying to get to the root cause or solving it.

Heart of the Matter

When an issue arises, there is the core of the problem and associated symptoms or causes. In the first journal entry, the heart of the matter or the core issue in a situation was noted to be the most essential in ensuring that it is solved properly. Solving the core will do away with associated causes or symptoms. The main concepts important to critical thinking discussed in Chapters 12, 13, and 14 were comparative reasoning, empirical reasoning and ideological reasoning. Comparative reasoning involves using knowledge or data of the past to compare against the current situation in order to understand it well. Ideological reasoning will use individual concepts and values to understand the issue at hand. Lastly, empirical reasoning incorporates the use of previous evidence and research that has similar interests like the current situation.

The authors in these chapters find these three concepts important to critical thinking in a number of ways. OneFirst, if prior knowledge is available, understanding a situation will be easier. If properly understood, finding the root cause or solving a situation is enhanced based on the acquired experience. Secondly, the acquired experience is measured against the environment, and surrounding circumstances (ideological reasoning) on individual beliefs, enhancing quicker and well thought out decision making. Lastly, actual research evidence ensures that decisions made when understanding and solving an issue is not based on falsehood. Schmaltz et al. (2017) describe that important concepts in critical thinking will ensure that the skills and dispositions of interpretation, inference, analysis, and inquisitiveness are incorporated before a decision is made.

Ethical Decision Making

In Chapter 16, the lecture elaborates that good ethical values in decision making will require that consequences of the decision made, both beneficial and harmful, are weighed. According to Terziev et al. (2020), decision making based on ethics ensures that positive results are achieved out of a situation. If ethics is used while solving an issue or getting to the bottom of an argument, then the final decision made will put in consideration both the harmful and positive sides. Strong and reasonable argument based on ethics often yield positivity, hence I agree with Chapter 16 lecture that ethics is an essential element of a good argument.

Looking forwardForward

Critical thinking is a wide concept. It can never be based on one platform. Schmaltz et al. (2017) also confirms that critical thinking itself is wide and has numerous definitions from various scholars. I therefore cannot say, I now know everything about critical thinking. It i’s a lifelong process since experiences change with time, the environment and empirical research also changes with time. So, critical thinking will be based on data available, relevant research and individual experiences based on time.

References

Schmaltz, R. M., Jansen, E. & Wenckowski, N. (2017). Redefining critical thinking: teaching students to think like scientists. Frontiers in Psychology, 8(:, 459): 1-4. Web.

Terziev, V., Koleci, R. & Solovev, D. (2020). Role of ethics in decision making in public and private organizations. International E-Journal of Advances in Social Sciences, 6(16): ), 106-110. Web.

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