INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 8
The importance of critical thinking in career development
CHAPTER 8
The importance of critical thinking in career development Author Brigita Ruzienė
The conception of critical thinking In every person’s life there are endless opportunities to experience all kinds of impressions, to engage in the learning process, and to educate oneself as a moral entity. From an early age, many people strive to be happy and, most importantly, successful. Already at school one feels pressure to choose exams, to know one’s profession from adolescence, and that causes tension and stress for a young person. But often a young person does not know what and how to choose, and in such a situation he/she gets confused. He/she does not understand how to assess the circumstances and what actions to take. In the 21st century, as the flow of information accelerates, when spending a lot of time on social networks or other virtual spaces which are full of information, one encounters a significant concept – critical thinking. In fact, different definitions can be found in different literature to define this concept. When it comes to the critical thinking process, it is important to mention the essential principles. According to David Klooster: 1. In order to think critically, one needs to have a lot of information, facts, knowledge – this is the very starting point, which is especially important. The more different information a person has, the more he/she is able to select and critically evaluate it. 2. Critical thinking – independent thinking. Each person must work with themselves and develop this thinking, not to be afraid to ask themselves complex and provocative questions, thus creating an opportunity for improvement. But the most important thing is that everyone has to think independently. It is important to sift out your thoughts and understand whether they are in fact reasoned on the basis of the information available, or maybe the approach has been introduced by the people around, or based on manipulative principles, shaped by the sources of the information. Independent thinking is the first and perhaps most important feature of critical thinking. 3. Critical thinking usually starts with issues and problems that need to be addressed. Interest in the world, the desire to know and understand it is one of the main human traits. When we see or learn something new, we definitely want to puzzle it out. When we hear about an interesting place, we hurry to go there and see it with our own eyes. John Dewey, an American educational philosopher, believes that students begin to think critically when they get interested in the problem. According to Dewey, problems encourage students’ innate curiosity and critical thinking: “Only by wrestling with the conditions of the problem first hand, seeking and finding his(her) own way out, does he(she) think.” (Dewey, p. 188) 4. Critical thinking requires sound reasoning. People who think critically base their problem-solving options on solid arguments. They acknowledge that there is more than one solution to the problem and prove the logic and practicality of their decision.
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