The Definition of Critical Thinking: A lifestyle or a Diet?

When sculptor and painter Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) finished "The Thinker"in 1902, and unveiled it in 1904, his reputation as one of the greatest artist of that time period was confirmed. This significant work of art depicts a man deep in thought seemingly almost perplexed. Yet one might conclude that if this statue were created for contemporary times , it would depict a man engaged in "critical thinking". David B. Ellis, an author of many books including North Americas-best selling college text book, Becoming a Master Student, wrote in 1997, " critical thinkers distinguish between fact and fiction; ask questions, make detailed observations, uncover assumptions and define their terms, and make assertions based on sound logic and solid evidence. Authors Michael Scriven, and Richard Paul suggest that "critical thinkers can be seen as having two components, (1) a set of skills to process and generate information and (2) the habit, based on intellectual commitment of using those skills to guide behavior.

While Scriven, Paul and Ellis define critical thinking differently, each definition contains a common thread, that thread being, critical thinking requires discipline and skill and most importantly consistency and commitment. I think of consistency and commitment with respect to critical thinking as a lifestyle not a diet. I believe its fair to say that lifestyle changes tend to be more permanent, while diets come and go. However, Scriven and Paul also wrote that"critical thinking is never universal in any individual and therefore everyone is subject to episodes of undisciplined or irrational thought", which for me clarifies that no matter how often you do anything, as a human being you are bound to get it wrong sometimes. Often its not only about getting it wrong, more often than not, we allow external influences like the media to distract us from critical thinking by sending a barrage of messages and communications that appeal to our emotional impulses. Clement and Lochhead commented in their book , Cognitive Process Instruction (1980) " We should be teaching students how to think instead we are teaching them what to think". Unless we can practice critical thinking and "take charge of our thinking" as Linda Elder and Richard Paul suggest in their article, "critical thinking'; why we must transform our teaching, , we are destined to be on a critical thinking diet rather than making it part of our lifestyle. If we live on on that kind of diet , I'm not sure any of us can accomplish all that we are capable of.