Universal elements of critical thinking. There are many elements of critical thinking. Here are some of the absolute primary ones. In part one, we're going to cover an open and curious mind, thinking through issues and analyzing issues from multiple viewpoints. In part two, we will cover during the needed investigation, intuitive and non intuitive thinking and lessons learned. Let's get started.

A curious and open mind. A childlike fascination with the world and an open mind about it and the people in it is a powerful combination. Each experience provides one more piece of the amazingly complex puzzle of life. For every challenge undertaken, whether win or lose success or failure, invaluable experience is gained. For the critical thinker education doesn't stop at high school, or college or grad school, or even after working learning A lifelong commitment. Albert Einstein's name is synonymous with genius.

However, his greatest gift was arguably that he had an open and curious mind and a childlike fascination with the universe. He continually asked tougher and tougher questions in the world of physics, and then invested enormous amounts of time looking for the answers. There are many great minds throughout history that never accomplished a fraction of what Albert Einstein did. The differentiating factor was that he had an open and curious mind. Another great example of an open and curious mind is Florence Nightingale. She is best known for pioneering work in modern nursing.

However, it was her statistical abilities that made her famous. In late 1854, she and 38 volunteer women went to the Crimean War, to care for the wounded. During the first winter there she learned that 10 times as many soldiers Jews were dying from illnesses such as typhoid, cholera and dysentery and from battle wounds. She discovered that the hygiene was horrific, and the cause of many of these deaths. After the war, Florence Nightingale returned to Britain and used her statistical skills to write a report to the royal commission that outlined the importance of sanitary conditions in health care. She was instrumental in implementing the report's recommendations, Florence Nightingale's curiosity and open mind guide to do to improve healthcare conditions.

Her work saved countless lives. thinking through issues, lower order learning is by rote memorization, Association and drill. Critical Thinking encourages digging deeper into issues and challenges. This is done by thinking through an objective. Here is one example of how the thinking thought process works. First, faxing data are gathered, then assumption and risk are considered.

Finally, an informed decision is made and appropriate action is taken to achieve a goal. This systematic process is known as a stream of logic. The more critical to challenge the more thinking is required. Let me give you an example. Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first to successfully climb Mount Everest and return alive. Being first was not a matter of luck.

It was a matter of thinking through every decision, as well as every detail. Hillary decided to select Norgay for his partner because of his vast mountain climbing experience. Hillary also paid close attention to the smallest of details. For example, He invested a full day checking oxygen cylinders and determining flow rates, gathering the facts and data. He understood that carefully thinking through your objectives could be the difference. between life and death.

Having enough oxygen to make the round trip would be essential and assumption because it was critical for survival the risk due to an understanding of the oxygen needs for the journey ahead and always being observant. Hilary spotted half empty bottles along the way, he decided to pick them up for later use. After Hillary and Norgay reached the summit of Mount Everest, they changed their almost empty oxygen bottles for the bottles they had picked up. This got them safely back to base camp. And the rest as they say, is history. Analyze issues from multiple viewpoints.

Almost any issue can be looked at several different ways. different perspectives also known as viewpoints help provide better solutions to issues common questions to ask yourself. Are there different perspectives? What are they? How Can I use these perspectives to resolve the challenge? What are the cause and effect of any decisions made or actions taken?

Here's a classic example of an economist who was able to understand two different perspectives. Milton Friedman, a famous economist, was a passionate advocate of the free market. He agreed to debate the hot topic of tuition increase in the state school University of California in Los Angeles. The governor who was ronald reagan at the time, had proposed the increase. The two viewpoints were clearly opposite. Friedman defended Reagan's proposed tuition increase, the students were against it.

They were furious at Friedman's position and booed him as he entered. During the debate, Friedman turned to the students and called them objects of charity. in shock, the students listened. Friedman told them that there wasn't another program that clearly transferred income from The poor to the rich as did government subsidized higher education. tuition reimbursement had the people of watts paying for the college expenses of the people from Beverly Hills, he argued. Friedman understood both viewpoints clearly.

This helped him construct a convincing argument for raising tuition. He knew that no student wanted to pay more money for tuition without a very good reason. Friedman also knew that the tuition needed to be increased to be fair to all students, rich and poor. Once a student saw the unfairness of their lower tuitions, they voted by a high margin to raise tuition rates. Opening up to see multiple sides of an issue is a powerful skill. It doesn't mean you have to agree with the opposing side.

However, there are frequently two or more views to an issue that need considering there are significant benefits to looking at multiple viewpoints. You are able to find the best solution To a problem and you add to your personal database of alternative solutions and experiences for future problems. Thanks for watching.