Critical Thinking: Exploring Reality in the Light of Evidence

Vision    Critical thinking is the application of reason to issues with a demand for evidence and linkage to establish the relative truth or falsity of ideas.  Often in our society today an idea gains ascendancy not because it is demonstrably true but because it is repeated by influential newsmakers ranging from political leaders, news commentators and others.  The test of any idea is not who believes it, but rather what evidence supports it.  Even the most authoritative source can be wrong and the failure to advance evidence is a serious deficiency in even the most otherwise powerful argument.

Objective The objective of the Critical Thinking focus project is to produce illustrations of Critical Thinking which can be held up as examples of Critical Thinking in action.  An appropriate project would be exposing a popularly held idea to critical examination and showing how it ought to be presented in the light of evidence.  To qualify such a project should examine all the evidence as critically as possible and expose the strengths and weaknesses of the various underlying factors either in support or opposition.  Such a Critical Thinking exercise should end in three possible ways: 1) Confirmation, 2) Contradiction, or 3) Inconclusive.

Example An example of an impressive effort in Critical Thinking is the honors project of Kristen Byrnes, a high school student from Portland, Maine who examined the Global Warming controversy.  Her website: "Ponder the Maunder" critically examines the evidence for man-made global warming and concludes that it is extremely doubtful.  The case has simply not been made.  See also The Great Global Warming Swindle.