The definition of critical thinking is a bit of a mess, as illustrated in Wikipedia. In my experience in non-academic settings, critical thinking is generally agreed upon as the following abilities (source: https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/science/2021/07/25/conspiracy-theorists-lack-critical-thinking/ ), which I wish academics would also endorse. You may not get the answer right, but you won't pick an obviously wrong answer.
"These include the ability to think systematically, see other perspectives, change your mind when new evidence arises, identify relevant versus irrelevant information, identify and discard logical fallacies, be aware of biases and avoid them, and look beyond the obvious."
This is the fundamental problem with discourse today. People talking past each other. There is no point in debating whether an outcome is good/right or not, we should move right along to debating principles. As Christopher Hitchens said, I just need to know someone's principles and I'll know their views on just about anything.
It's funny to read this, now*, when just a couple of weeks ago, some of us were joking about how big a red flag it is when you see someone on social media whose bio says anything like "Critical thinker."
It's a very good essay, though, and I'm glad you did link to it.
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* (Just got here from a link in your 21 April 2026 piece)
The definition of critical thinking is a bit of a mess, as illustrated in Wikipedia. In my experience in non-academic settings, critical thinking is generally agreed upon as the following abilities (source: https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/science/2021/07/25/conspiracy-theorists-lack-critical-thinking/ ), which I wish academics would also endorse. You may not get the answer right, but you won't pick an obviously wrong answer.
"These include the ability to think systematically, see other perspectives, change your mind when new evidence arises, identify relevant versus irrelevant information, identify and discard logical fallacies, be aware of biases and avoid them, and look beyond the obvious."
This is the fundamental problem with discourse today. People talking past each other. There is no point in debating whether an outcome is good/right or not, we should move right along to debating principles. As Christopher Hitchens said, I just need to know someone's principles and I'll know their views on just about anything.
It's funny to read this, now*, when just a couple of weeks ago, some of us were joking about how big a red flag it is when you see someone on social media whose bio says anything like "Critical thinker."
It's a very good essay, though, and I'm glad you did link to it.
__________
* (Just got here from a link in your 21 April 2026 piece)