Critical Thinking for Transformative Justice
Critical Thinking for Transformative Justice
Critical Thinking for Transformative Justice
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“<strong>Thinking</strong>” in Cognitive Science<br />
Theories emerging from more scientific<br />
studies of human thinking and decisionmaking<br />
in recent years propose that thinking<br />
is more integrated and less dualistic than<br />
the notions in popular culture suggest. We<br />
should be cautious about proposals<br />
suggesting oversimplified ways of<br />
understanding how humans think. We<br />
should avoid harsh, rigid dichotomies such<br />
as “reason vs. emotion,” “intuitive vs. linear,”<br />
“creativity vs. criticality,” “right brained vs.<br />
left brained,” “as on Mars vs. as on Venus.”<br />
There is often a kernel of wisdom in<br />
popular beliefs, and perhaps that gem this<br />
time is the realization that some times we<br />
decide things very quickly almost as<br />
spontaneous, intuitive, reactions to the<br />
situation at hand. Many accidents on the<br />
freeways of this nation are avoided<br />
precisely because drivers are able to see<br />
and react to dangerous situations so<br />
quickly. Many good decisions which feel<br />
intuitive are really the fruit of expertise.<br />
Decisions good drivers make in those<br />
moments of crisis, just like the decisions<br />
which practiced athletes make in the flow of<br />
a game or the decisions that a gifted<br />
teacher makes as she or he interacts with<br />
students, are borne of expertise, training,<br />
and practice.<br />
At the same time that we are<br />
immersed in the world around us and in our<br />
daily lives, constantly making decisions<br />
unreflectively, we may also be thinking quite<br />
reflectively about something. Perhaps we’re<br />
worried about a decision which we have to<br />
make about an important project at work, or<br />
about a personal relationship, or about a<br />
legal matter, whatever. We gather<br />
in<strong>for</strong>mation, consider our options, explore<br />
Facione, PA, “<strong>Critical</strong> <strong>Thinking</strong>: What It is and Why it Counts” 2011 update Page 15