critical vs collaborative thinking

"1 + 1 = 3" ~ Me

Recently, I’ve developed a curiosity about critical thinking: what is this mysterious other-world approach to knowledge and learning? Coming from a creative-design team background, how can I be sure that I can confidently employ a critical thinking approach, especially in regard to upcoming thinking challenges?

My goal in this series of writings is to:

(a) outline some of my concerns regarding critical thinking;

(b) inform myself about the process(es) of critical thinking;

(c) assess my current approach(es) to thinking;

(d) research alternative or complimentary approaches to critical thinking; and,

(e) see if strengths of each can be shared, repurposed or integrated.

Okay, thinkers: Let’s begin!

My concerns about critical thinking

One concern I have about critical thinking is my assumption that critical thinking is about literally criticizing other people’s ideas. I wonder: if we are both working toward the same objective, wouldn’t a collaborative approach be more useful? Also, I’m not sure I’m comfortable with saying that someone’s thoughts or ideas are better or worse than someone else’s, or my own. My background values and welcomes inclusiveness, which would mean that all ideas as equally valid and important.

Question: Is critical thinking about criticizing and value-based judgements? To be explored.

I'm concerned that critical thinking is limited in its analysis because it doesn’t consider experience and potential. For example: critical thinking and logic counts 1+1=2; which refers to a static measurable outcome. However, creative/collaborative thinking adds 1+1=3 (for example), while acknowledging the truth of the logical 1+1=2 counting formula also! This approach refers to the cumulative measurable outcomes both of logical knowledge and of wisdom combined. Rather than the either/or of logic, creative/collaborative thinking recognizes a both/and approach to knowing. It makes me wonder: Am I assuming that critical thinking is limited in its analysis because I assume a logic-only approach? Are there even more methods of thinking that can be utilized as complimentary methods to fully learn, integrate and utilize information? To be explored.

Higher education had been criticized in feminist dialogue for championing logic-analytic, historically white-european-male-valued, left-brain thinking, and disregarding other ways of learning and knowing? The criticism isn't new: I learned of this topic when I was in university twenty years ago. I'm assuming old-school dichotomous thinking in academica was transformed into more wholistic approaches? Right? If not, I'm shocked.

To research: how has transformation in academic approach occurred to include more than just the rational way of knowing?

However, if there have been transformations, I look forward to learning about the new experiential, collaborative approaches that can be utilized in assessing information with more wholistic results? My intuition tells me that there are great benefits to moving from a competitive-dualistic model of thinking, to a more collaborative-inclusive approach.

To explore: new approaches that have been developed and practiced.

So, what is Critical Thinking?

"The components of Critical Thinking:

▪ Identify basic issues and formulate questions

▪ Clarify meanings

▪ Uncover assumptions and contexts

▪ Consider alternative viewpoints

▪ Evaluate reasons and criteria

▪ Making connections and draw warranted conclusions"

[from http://philosophy.buffalostate.edu/critical-thinking]

Let’s stop here for now, having done the first step of critical thinking: "identify basic issues and formulate questions". Next step in critical thinking: "clarify meanings". • AM