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CRITICAL THINKING: IS LINEAR OR SIMPLE OR CYCLICAL?

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Critical thinking is not a linear, simple or purely cyclical process. It is complex and cyclical in nature, but can involve iterative, back-and-forth thinking that does not neatly fit into a pure cycle model. Here is a more detailed discussion of how critical thinking works:

Critical thinking involves actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information as a guide to belief and action. It is not a step-by-step, linear process but rather an intricate, evolving cycle. At the core is a constant interaction between our mind and evidence or experiences from the world.

A basic cyclical model of critical thinking would involve the following phases: 1) Identifying and defining a problem or issue, 2) Researching relevant information from credible sources, 3) Analyzing and evaluating gathered information through reasoned judgment, 4) Drawing well-supported conclusions, 5) Testing conclusions against standards, personal beliefs or new evidence, then 6) Repeating the cycle as needed by returning to phase 1 or 2 with new insights.

The reality is far more complex than this simple cycle implies. True critical thinkers do not always move through phases in neat order, nor do they necessarily return full circle before reassessing initial conclusions or identifying new related problems to explore. Their thinking often involves an iterative process with numerous feedback loops between different stages.

For instance, after analyzing information in phase 3, a critical thinker may realize their problem definition from phase 1 was incomplete or inaccurate, requiring revisiting earlier work. Newly drawn conclusions in phase 4 could lead right back to phase 2 if more research is needed before verification. Standards and beliefs assessed in phase 5 may change due to insights generated along the way. And so critical thinking is perhaps best described not as one cycle but as a continuously evolving network of interconnected cognitive processes.

Several other key aspects make critical thinking distinctly non-linear and non-simple:

  • It tackles ill-defined, complex problems without clear answers, requiring flexible, multi-facated exploration across disciplines.
  • It considers diverse, sometimes conflicting perspectives rather than moving towards a single conclusion.
  • It allows for reasonable doubts and uncertainties, wherein thinker’s own assumptions are open for scrutiny.
  • It requires high-level cognitive skills of analysis, evaluation, inference, explanation, interpretation that are not stepwise but interact in sophisticated ways.
  • It depends greatly on thinker’s evolving background knowledge, developing expertise and ability to metacognate on their own thinking process.

While models depict critical thinking as cyclical, it is better characterized as a dynamic, iterative process with complex interconnections between different phases of reasoning and evaluation. True critical thinkers do not simply move from point A to B to C but engage in continual refinement of understanding through recursive inquiry and open-minded skepticism. Their thought process resists oversimplification and reflects an effort to engage with ill-structured problems from multiple perspectives simultaneously over time.

CRITICAL THINKING IS LINEAR OR SIMPLE OR CYCLIC OR TEMPORARY?

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Critical thinking is neither linear nor simple. It involves deep analysis of issues and problems from multiple perspectives in a complex and cyclical manner.

Critical thinking is best understood as a cyclical process rather than a linear one. When we think critically about an issue or problem, we do not approach it in a straightforward, A to B fashion. Rather, critical thinking involves continuously revisiting our initial understandings, questioning our assumptions, examining additional perspectives, and refining our thoughts and conclusions over time.

The hallmarks of critical thinking – such as Suspending judgment, Logical reasoning, Asking meaningful questions, Understanding different views, Thinking independently, and Cross-examining evidence and assumptions – do not naturally occur in a simplistic, straight line. We have to revisit them constantly as our analysis develops and deepens. For example, as we gather more information on an issue, we may need to re-evaluate assumptions we had initially made or suspend a judgment we had come to prematurely. As such, critical thinking follows a cyclical rather than linear process.

Indeed, famous critical thinking models depicted by experts support this understanding. One classic model outlines critical thinking as the process of 1) Observing/identifying an issue, 2) Formulating questions, 3) Exploring information, 4) Forming tentative hypotheses, 5) Testing hypotheses, 6) Drawing conclusions – and then starting the cycle over again as new insights emerge. We engage in these stages repeatedly to keep refining our analysis. In another influential model, Paul and Elder highlight the importance within critical thinking of constantly “cycling back” between our evolving understandings and the evidence/standards that support them.

Critical thinking is not simple or simplistic as it involves subtle and multi-faceted cognitive work. When thinking critically, we must consider an issue from various angles, think from different cultural and ideological perspectives, integrate numerous credible sources of information, detect logical fallacies and inconsistencies of reasoning, question underlying values and worldviews, account for complexity and nuance, recognize limitations in available knowledge and uncertainties, and more. Juggling all these sophisticated thought processes cannot be reduced to a simplistic, straightforward endeavor. It requires carefully examining issues from multiple dimensions to avoid superficial analysis.

At the same time, critical thinking is not simply a temporary, fleeting act. It cultivates certain durable intellectual virtues that continue developing over long-term, deeper engagement in the process. For instance, practicing critical thinking strengthens the abilities to reason independently, see issues from multiple sides, question biases, continually refine understandings based on evidence – skills that last well beyond any single instance of analysis. Critical thinking also fosters broad conceptual understandings and thought-patterns that influence how we approach new topics, arguments and information across diverse contexts over time.

Critical thinking follows a iterative, cyclical process rather than being linear, simple or temporary. It involves sophisticated cognitive work in considering issues from various angles, perspectives, and dimensions repeatedly and incrementally refining understandings – not reducing complex topics to simplistic treatments or one-off acts of fleeting thought. The deepest level of critical thinking develops certain virtuous intellectual habits that last well beyond any single instance of analysis and influence ongoing reflections, learning and reasoning. Truly mastering critical thinking takes ongoing practice and refinement over the long-term, not a snap judgment or simplistic approach.