Why Is Critical Thinking Important?

A
Survival Guide

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Why is critical thinking important? The decisions that you make affect your quality of life. And
if you want to ensure that you live your best, most successful and happy life, you’re going to
want to make conscious choices. That can be done with a simple thing known as critical
thinking. Here’s how to improve your critical thinking skills and make decisions that you won’t
regret.

What Is Critical Thinking?

You’ve surely heard of critical thinking, but you might not be entirely sure what it really means,
and that’s because there are many definitions. For the most part, however, we think of critical
thinking as the process of analyzing facts in order to form a judgment. Basically, it’s thinking
about thinking.

  How Has The Definition Evolved Over Time?

 The first time critical thinking was documented is believed to be in the teachings of Socrates,
recorded by Plato. But throughout history, the definition has changed.

Today it is best understood by philosophers and psychologists and it’s believed to be a highly
complex concept. Some insightful modern-day critical thinking definitions include:

 “Reasonable, reflective thinking that is focused on deciding what to believe or do.”

 “Deciding what’s true and what you should do.”

The Importance Of Critical Thinking

Why is critical thinking important? Good question! Here are a few undeniable reasons why it’s
crucial to have these skills.
 

1. Critical Thinking Is Universal

Critical thinking is a domain-general thinking skill. What does this mean? It means that no
matter what path or profession you pursue, these skills will always be relevant and will always
be beneficial to your success. They are not specific to any field.

2. Crucial For The Economy

Our future depends on technology, information, and innovation. Critical thinking is needed for
our fast-growing economies, to solve problems as quickly and as effectively as possible.

3. Improves Language & Presentation Skills

In order to best express ourselves, we need to know how to think clearly and systematically —
meaning practice critical thinking! Critical thinking also means knowing how to break down
texts, and in turn, improve our ability to comprehend.

4. Promotes Creativity

By practicing critical thinking, we are allowing ourselves not only to solve problems, but also
come up with new and creative ideas to do so. Critical thinking allows us to analyze these ideas
and adjust them accordingly.
 

5. Important For Self-Reflection

Without critical thinking, how can we really live a meaningful life? We need this skill to self-
reflect and justify our ways of life and opinions. Critical thinking provides us with the tools to
evaluate ourselves in the way that we need to.

 
Photo by Marcelo Chagas from Pexels

6. The Basis Of Science & Democracy

In order to have a democracy and to prove scientific facts, we need critical thinking in the world.
Theories must be backed up with knowledge. In order for a society to effectively function, its
citizens need to establish opinions about what’s right and wrong (by using critical thinking!).

 
 

Benefits Of Critical Thinking

We know that critical thinking is good for society as a whole, but what are some benefits of
critical thinking on an individual level? Why is critical thinking important for us?

1. Key For Career Success

Critical thinking is crucial for many career paths. Not just for scientists, but lawyers, doctors,
reporters, engineers, accountants, and analysts (among many others) all have to use critical
thinking in their positions.

In fact, according to the World Economic Forum, critical thinking is one of the most desirable
skills to have in the workforce, as it helps analyze information, think outside the box, solve
problems with innovative solutions, and plan systematically.

2. Better Decision Making

There’s no doubt about it — critical thinkers make the best choices. Critical thinking helps us
deal with everyday problems as they come our way, and very often this thought process is even
done subconsciously. It helps us think independently and trust our gut feeling.

3. Can Make You Happier!

 
While this often goes unnoticed, being in touch with yourself and having a deep understanding of
why you think the way you think can really make you happier. Critical thinking can help you
better understand yourself, and in turn, help you avoid any kind of negative or limiting beliefs,
and focus more on your strengths. Being able to share your thoughts can increase your quality of
life.

4. Form Well-Informed Opinions

There is no shortage of information coming at us from all angles. And that’s exactly why we
need to use our critical thinking skills and decide for ourselves what to believe. Critical thinking
allows us to ensure that our opinions are based on the facts, and help us sort through all that extra
noise.

5. Better Citizens

One of the most inspiring critical thinking quotes is by former US president Thomas Jefferson:
“An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.”

What Jefferson is stressing to us here is that critical thinkers make better citizens, as they are able
to see the entire picture without getting sucked into biases and propaganda.

6. Improves Relationships

While you may be convinced that being a critical thinker is bound to cause you problems in
relationships, this really couldn’t be less true! Being a critical thinker can allow you to better
understand the perspective of others, and can help you become more open-minded towards
different views.

7. Promotes Curiosity

Critical thinkers are constantly curious about all kinds of things in life, and tend to have a wide
range of interests. Critical thinking means constantly asking questions and wanting to know
more, about why, what, who, where, when, and everything else that can help them make sense of
a situation or concept, never taking anything at face value.

8. Allows For Creativity

Critical thinkers are also highly creative thinkers, and see themselves as limitless when it comes
to possibilities. They are constantly looking to take things further, which is crucial in the
workforce.

 
 

9. Enhances Problem Solving Skills

Those with critical thinking skills tend to solve problems as part of their natural instinct. Critical
thinkers are patient and committed to solving the problem, similar to Albert Einstein, one of the
best critical thinking examples, who said “It’s not that I’m so smart; it’s just that I stay with
problems longer.”

Critical thinkers’ enhanced problem-solving skills makes them better at their jobs and better at
solving the world’s biggest problems. Like Einstein, they have the potential to literally change
the world.

10. An Activity For The Mind

Just like our muscles, in order for them to be strong, our mind also needs to be exercised and
challenged. It’s safe to say that critical thinking is almost like an activity for the mind — and it
needs to be practiced. Critical thinking encourages the development of many crucial skills such
as logical thinking, decision making, and open-mindness.

11. Creates Independence

When we think critically, we think on our own as we trust ourselves more. Critical thinking is
key to creating independence, and encouraging students to make their own decisions and form
their own opinions.

 
12. Crucial Life Skill

Critical thinking is crucial not just for learning, but for life overall! Education isn’t just a way to
prepare ourselves for life, but it’s pretty much life itself. Learning is a lifelong process that we go
through each and every day.

How to Think Critically

Now that you know the benefits of thinking critically, how do you actually do it?

How To Improve Your Critical Thinking

 Define Your Question: When it comes to critical thinking, it’s important to always keep
your goal in mind. Know what you’re trying to achieve, and then figure out how to best
get there.
 Gather Reliable Information: Make sure that you’re using sources you can trust —
biases aside. That’s how a real critical thinker operates!
 Ask The Right Questions: We all know the importance of questions, but be sure that
you’re asking the right questions that are going to get you to your answer.
 Look Short & Long Term: When coming up with solutions, think about both the short-
and long-term consequences. Both of them are significant in the equation.
 Explore All Sides: There is never just one simple answer, and nothing is black or white.
Explore all options and think outside of the box before you come to any conclusions.

How Is Critical Thinking Developed At School?

Critical thinking is developed in nearly everything we do. However, much of this important skill
is encouraged to be practiced at school, and rightfully so! Critical thinking goes beyond just
thinking clearly — it’s also about thinking for yourself.

 
When a teacher asks a question in class, students are given the chance to answer for themselves
and think critically about what they learned and what they believe to be accurate. When students
work in groups and are forced to engage in discussion, this is also a great chance to expand their
thinking and use their critical thinking skills.

How Does Critical Thinking Apply To Your Career?

Once you’ve finished school and entered the workforce, your critical thinking journey only
expands and grows from here!

Impress Your Employer

Employers value employees who are critical thinkers, ask questions, offer creative ideas, and are
always ready to offer innovation against the competition. No matter what your position or role in
a company may be, critical thinking will always give you the power to stand out and make a
difference.

Careers That Require Critical Thinking

Some of many examples of careers that require critical thinking include:

 Manager
 Human resources specialist
 Lawyer
 Marketing associate
 Business analyst

Truth be told however, it’s probably harder to come up with a professional field that doesn’t
require any critical thinking!
 

 
Photo by Oladimeji Ajegbile from Pexels

What Is Someone With Critical Thinking Skills Capable Of

Doing?
Someone with critical thinking skills is able to think rationally and clearly about what they
should or not believe. They are capable of engaging in their own thoughts, and doing some
reflection in order to come to a well-informed conclusion.

A critical thinker understands the connections between ideas, and is able to construct arguments
based on facts, as well as find mistakes in reasoning.

The Process Of Critical Thinking

The process of critical thinking is highly systematic.

What Are Your Goals?

Critical thinking starts by defining your goals, and knowing what you are ultimately trying to
achieve.

Foresight

 
Once you know what you are trying to conclude, you can foresee your solution to the problem
and play it out in your head from all perspectives.

What Does The Future Of Critical Thinking Hold?

The future of critical thinking is the equivalent of the future of jobs. In 2020, critical thinking
was ranked as the 2nd top skill (following complex problem solving) by the World Economic
Forum.

We are dealing with constant unprecedented changes, and what success is today, might not be
considered success tomorrow — making critical thinking a key skill for the future workforce.

Why Is Critical Thinking So Important?

Why is critical thinking important? Critical thinking is more than just important! It’s one of the
most crucial cognitive skills one can develop.

By practicing well-thought-out thinking, both your thoughts and decisions can make a positive
change in your life, on both a professional and personal level. You can hugely improve your life
by working on your critical thinking skills as often as you can.

What are the Importance and Benefits of

"Critical Thinking Skills"?
 Published on January 27, 2015
S. M. Rayhanul Islam

Independent Researcher at Educational, Social and Youth Issues

13 articles

Critical Thinking is the ability to analyze the way you think and present evidence for
your ideas, rather than simply accepting your personal reasoning as sufficient proof. You
can gain numerous benefits from mastering critical thinking skills, such as better control
of your own learning and empathy for other points of view.

 Critical Thinking is, in short, self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-

corrective thinking. It presupposes assent to rigorous standards of excellence and mindful
command of their use. It entails effective communication and problem solving abilities
and a commitment to overcome our native egocentrism and sociocentrism.

From solving problems in class assignments to facing real world situations, Critical
Thinking is a valuable skill for students to master.
 Critical Thinking skills teach a variety of skills that can be applied to any situation in
life that calls for reflection, analysis and planning.

 Critical Thinking is a domain-general thinking skill. The ability to think clearly and
rationally is important whatever we choose to do. If you work in education, research,
finance, management or the legal profession, then critical thinking is obviously
important. But critical thinking skills are not restricted to a particular subject area. Being
able to think well and solve problems systematically is an asset for any career.

 Critical Thinking is very important in the new knowledge economy. The global
knowledge economy is driven by information and technology. One has to be able to deal
with changes quickly and effectively. The new economy places increasing demands on
flexible intellectual skills, and the ability to analyse information and integrate diverse
sources of knowledge in solving problems. Good critical thinking promotes such thinking
skills, and is very important in the fast-changing workplace.

 Critical Thinking enhances language and presentation skills. Thinking clearly and
systematically can improve the way we express our ideas. In learning how to analyse the
logical structure of texts, critical thinking also improves comprehension abilities.
 Critical Thinking promotes creativity. To come up with a creative solution to a problem
involves not just having new ideas. It must also be the case that the new ideas being
generated are useful and relevant to the task at hand. Critical thinking plays a crucial role
in evaluating new ideas, selecting the best ones and modifying them if necessary

 Critical Thinking is crucial for self-reflection. In order to live a meaningful life and to
structure our lives accordingly, we need to justify and reflect on our values and decisions.
Critical thinking provides the tools for this process of self-evaluation.

 Good Critical Thinking is the foundation of science and a liberal democratic society.
Science requires the critical use of reason in experimentation and theory confirmation.
The proper functioning of a liberal democracy requires citizens who can think critically
about social issues to inform their judgments about proper governance and to overcome
biases and prejudice.

 Critical Thinking is something that is valued both in the university setting and in the
professional situations you will find yourselves in after you graduate, and is part of
lifelong learning. Critical Thinking is important in life. It helps you to think creatively –
‘outside the box’. It keeps you from becoming narrow. Critical Thinking is expected of
you in higher education. It can lead to developing your judgement, evaluation and
problem solving abilities.
 Learning Critical Thinking skills can also enhance your academic performance.
According to Linda Elder and Richard Paul, authors of "Critical Thinking Development:
A Stage Theory," students who know how to analyze and critique ideas are able to make
connections across disciplines, see knowledge as useful and applicable to daily life and
understand content on a deeper, more lasting level.
 Rather than relying on teachers and classroom time for instruction and guidance, students
with critical thinking skills become more independent, self-directed learners. Researcher
Jane Qinjuan Zhang writes that critical thinking enables students to assess their learning
styles, strengths and weaknesses, and allows them to take ownership of their education.
 All Entrance exams examine a students’ ability to think critically. As a matter of fact, the
analytical and verbal reasoning skills sections of the GRE exams are straight out exams
founded on testing Critical Thinking skills. So is the Written Analysis and
Communication test in the second phase of IIMA entrance exams. The skills developed in
Critical Thinking directly help students do better even at the Mathematical reasoning
tests.
 Today one of the most important criteria for success in College is the ability to think
independently while being logical at the same time. Often students are asked to present
papers either on their subject matter or in liberal arts. Knowledge of Critical Thinking
Skills enables students to not only outline their papers coherently with a logical structure,
it also helps them reason and present their thoughts in an organized and persuasive
manner.


A good critical thinker knows how to separate facts from opinions, how to examine an
issue from all sides, how to make rational inferences and how to withhold personal
judgment or biases.

 Rational critical thinkers are generally the voices of reason in times of mass hysteria or
panic. As Franklin D. Roosevelt said, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." The
critical thinker usually has the comprehensive skills to consider all possible options and
solve a problem.
 The critical thinker remains calm and knows when he is right. Critical thinkers are less
likely to fall for scams or tricks because they approach everything with a healthy amount
of skepticism. Those who lack critical thinking skills often assume that everything they
hear is true, regardless of the source.

Critical thinkers consider all options before they act. If time is an important factor, they
consider the fastest method of achieving a goal. They may even discover a shortcut.
Critical thinkers embody the phrase "work smarter, not harder." They are masters of
efficiency.

 A critical thinker has the self-awareness to know the difference between a rational
thought based on careful consideration and an emotional response based on personal bias.
Emotion is the enemy of reason. By understanding your own perspective, you can also
consider the perspective of others and come to a conclusion based on fact, not feelings.

Increasingly more and more employers are looking not for employees with highly
specialized academic skills, but those with good thinking and communication skills.
 Employees who learn quickly and can solve problems, think creatively, gather and
analyze information meaningfully.

 Many of the highest paying jobs require critical thinking skills, such as generating
effective ideas and making important decisions. Job interviewers often ask applicants
questions that test their ability to think critically. Critical thinking skills may also be a
deciding factor when an employee seeks a promotion.

It's easy to let your emotions take over when making an important decision or arguing for
your opinion, especially if you are personally invested in it. However, "Why Critical
Thinking?", a report from York University, asserts that critical thinking can help you
effectively use emotional appeal, letting your feelings influence, but not control your
reasoning.

 Ultimately, Critical Thinking Skills help you to better understand the experiences and
views of others, enhancing your ability to work with different people.

*************************************************************************

6 Benefits of Critical Thinking and Why

They Matter
Here's how critical thinking can significantly help you. 

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There is much that has been said throughout the centuries in praise of critical thinking. The
methodology named after Greek philosopher Socrates—the Socratic method—is one of the
earliest critical thinking instruction tools known to man. Centuries later, Roman Emperor Marcus
“The Philosopher” Aurelius would warn in his meditations that, “Everything we hear is an
opinion, not a fact; everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” 

Fast forward past Galileo, W. E. B. Du Bois, Albert Einstein, Bertrand Russell, Martin Luther
King Jr., and countless others, and we discover that the practice of extolling the benefits of
critical thinking is literally thousands of years old. So what is it that makes it such an
honoured skill set? In what ways does critical thinking truly benefit us?

Though this list can be expanded considerably, we believe these 10 merits are among the most
significant.

1. It Encourages Curiosity
Curiosity exists to help us gain a deeper understanding of not only the world surrounding us but
the things that matter within our experience of that world. This extends to the topics we teach in
school, and also the ones that we find relevant in our daily lives.

Effective critical thinkers remain curious about a wide range of topics and generally have broad
interests. They retain inquisitiveness about the world and about people and have an
understanding of and appreciation for the cultures, beliefs, and views that are a shared quality of
our humanity. This is also part of what makes them lifelong learners.  

Effective critical thinkers remain curious about a wide range of topics and generally have broad
interests. 

Because critical thinkers are curious by nature, opportunities to apply critical thinking
skills are all around them every moment. They are always alert for chances to apply their best
thinking habits to any situation. A desire to think critically about even the simplest of issues and
tasks indicates a desire for constructive outcomes.

To this end, critical thinkers ask pertinent questions such as:

 What’s happening? What am I seeing?

 Why is it important? Who is affected by this?
 What am I missing? What’s hidden and why is it important?
 Where did this come from? How do I know for sure?
 Who is saying this? Why should I listen to this person? What can they teach me?
 What else should I consider?
 What if …?
 Why not?
Effective critical thinkers don't take anything at face value, either. They never stop asking
questions and enjoy exploring all sides of an issue and the deeper facts hiding within all modes
of data. 

2. It Enhances Creativity
In our travels, we've asked educators all over the world about the most important skills kids
need to thrive beyond school. It's pleasing to see that nurturing student creativity is very high on
that list. In fact, it's number 2, directly below problem-solving. There's no question that
effective critical thinkers are also largely creative thinkers. Creativity has unquestionably
defined itself as a requisite skill for having in the collaborative modern workforce.

A desire to think critically about even the simplest of issues and tasks indicates a desire for
constructive outcomes.

Critical thinking in business, marketing, and professional alliances relies heavily on one's ability
to be creative. When businesses get creative with products and how they are advertised, they
thrive in the global marketplace. The shift in valuing creativity and its ability to increase revenue
by enhancing product value echoes in every market segment. Here are just a few examples:

Paul Thompson, former director of New York's Cooper-Hewitt Museum:

“Manufacturers have begun to recognize that we can’t compete with the pricing structure and
labor costs of the Far East. So how can we compete? It has to be with design.”

Roger Martin, dean of the Rotman School of Management:

“Businesspeople don't need to understand designers better. They need to  be  designers."

Robert Lutz of the GM Corporation:

"I see us in the art business. Art entertainment and mobile sculpture, that coincidently happens
to provide transportation.”

Norio Ohga, former Sony Chairman and inventor of the CD:

“At Sony, we assume that all products of our competitors have basically the same technology,
price, performance, and features. Design is the only thing that differentiates one product from
another in the marketplace.”

Creative people question assumptions about many things. Instead of arguing for limitations,
creative minds ask "how" or"why not?" Creativity is eternal and it has limitless potential, which
means we  are unlimited as creative people. If creativity is within all of us, then we are also
limitless. 

This applies to learners of all ages, and although the intellectual risks any critical thinker takes
creatively are also sensible, such a person never fears to step outside their creative comfort zone. 

3. It Reinforces Problem-Solving Ability

Those who think critically tend to be instinctual problem-solvers. This ranks as probably the
most important skill we can help our learners build upon. The children of today are the leaders of
tomorrow and will face complex challenges using critical thinking capacity to engineer
imaginative solutions.

One of history’s most prolific critical thinkers, Albert Einstein, once said this: “It’s not that I’m
so smart; it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” It’s also worth noting this is the same guy
who said that, when given an hour to solve a problem, he’d likely spend 5 minutes on the
solution and the other 55 minutes defining and researching the problem. This kind of
patience and commitment to truly understanding a problem is a mark of the true critical thinker.
It’s the main reason why solid critical thinking ability is essential to being an effective problem-
solver.

Developing solid critical thinking skill prepares our students to face the complex problems that
matter to the world head-on. After all, our students are inheriting such issues as:

 global warming
 overpopulation 
  pollution
 the need for health care
 water shortages
 electronic waste management
 energy crises

As these challenges continue to change and grow as the world changes around them, the best
minds needed to solve them will be those prepared to think creatively and divergently to produce
innovative and lasting solutions. Critical thinking capacity does all that and more.

4. It's a Multi-Faceted Practice

Critical thinking is known for encompassing a wide array of disciplines, and cultivating a broad
range of cognitive talents. One could indeed say that it’s a cross-curricular activity for the
mind, and the mind must be exercised just like a muscle to stay healthy.

Among many other things, critical thinking promotes the development of things like:

 Reasoning skills
 Analytical thinking
 Evaluative skills
 Logical thinking
 Organizational and planning skills
  Language skills
 Self-reflective capacity
 Observational skills
 Open-mindedness
 Creative visualization techniques
 Questioning ability
 Decision making

This list could easily be expanded to include other skills, but this gives one an idea of just what is
being developed and enhanced when we choose to think critically in our daily lives.

5. It Fosters Independence
Getting our learners to begin thinking independently is one of the many goals of education. Wen
students think for themselves, they learn to become independent of us as well. Our job as
educators, in this sense, is to empower our students to the point at which we essentially become
obsolete. This process is repeated year after year, student after student, and moment after
moment as we cultivate independent thinking and responsibility for learning in those we teach.

Independent thinking skills are at the forefront of learning how to be not only a great thinker but
a great leader. Such skills teach our learners how to make sense of the world based on personal
experience and observation, and to make critical well-informed decisions in the same way. As
such, they gain confidence and the ability to learn from mistakes as they build successful and
productive lives.

Developing solid critical thinking skill prepares our students to face the complex problems that
matter to the world head-on.

When we think critically, we think in a self-directed manner. Our thinking is disciplined and thus
becomes a self-correcting mindset. It also means that such strong proactive thinking abilities
become second nature as we continue to develop them through learning and experience. 

As we stated earlier, independent critical thinking skills are among the top skills educators strive
to give to their students. That's because when we succeed at getting learners thinking
independently, we've given them a gift for life. Once school is over they can then go into
future enterprises and pursuits with confidence and pride. That, of course, leads us to our final
point.

6. It's a Skill for Life, Not Just Learning

As all teachers know, what they do with passion every day prepares our learners not just for the
time in the classroom, but for success and well-being when the formative years are done. When
we here at Wabisabi Learning introduced the Essential Fluencies and the 10 Shifts of Practice to
educators all over the world, we too had these goals firmly in mind. That’s why we made sure
these processes all involved actively building independent and critical thinking mindsets, and
fostered lifelong learning skills students.

Many great educators have said many great things about the importance of lifelong learning
skills. John Dewey, however, probably said it best: "Education is not preparation for life;
education is life itself." 

Educators want their learners to succeed both in and out of the classroom. The idea is to make
sure that once they leave school they no longer need us. In essence, our learners must become
teachers and leaders. The point is that they never stop being learners. This is what it means to be
a lifelong learner and a critical thinker.