Critical thinking is defined many ways, but primarily includes a host of internal perspectives. I see it as a thoughtful analysis of vision, knowledge, experience, emotions and intuition. It also includes thinking on matters with others through sharing your perspective. This series on critical thinking will look at each of these components in detail. Keep in mind that critical thinking depends on all these variables, never just one. First, let’s examine shared perspectives.
All people have a unique perspective on life. What I see through my small window of reality is vastly different then what another sees. When two perspectives are put together, the window becomes a little bit wider. Add another perspective, the window becomes a little taller and continues to find new light and texture. The view, as a result, becomes better, brighter and truer. Why then do most of us consider our existence the only perspective? When we are alone, we miss not only the truth, but also the light.
When two people come together from very different backgrounds, they can see the very similar thing through their windows. They can see the same trees, the same grass and find similar beauty. They may even have different tinted windows there looking through, but the images are the mostly the same. Secondly, people can also see unique things that the other will not notice without the others perspective. One may be focusing on the trees and miss the life of insects that float between the distance and the glass. He who is focused on the space within the distance may miss the snow and ice that rests on the distant trees.
Looking and seeing the same things can produce a human connection, a commonality, empathy and a mutual understanding that can bond people. In addition, an examination of similar perspectives adds clarity and certainty to create a sense of affirmation. Looking and seeing different things add dimension and newness. This is the sense of discovery, journey, and possibility. Being witness to new perspectives can also lead to personal truth. Why, then, would any of us not want to add the richness of texture that another person can bring to our perspective while making critical decision?
Critical thinking and their perspectives also require a sense that the world is a deeper place and that our existence is more complex. And while we need to distill an idea down for consumption, we first have to open our minds to the possibilities. By looking through our different windows, and then again looking through each other’s windows, we begin to see patterns and ideas that are crucial to the rest of the critical thinking process.
In the next blog, we will look at the critical thinking variables of vision and knowledge.