Critical Thinking: What It Is and Why It Counts

It is important to distinguish between logic and critical thinking. Logic is considered as the science of reasoning that often used in our day-to-day lives, while critical thinking involves the rational deliberation of a thinker towards solving a particular problem. This implies that there is a close connection between logic, which is a formularized way of evaluating knowledge claims to establish what is unknown based on what is known and critical thinking. For instance, for one to be considered as a critical thinker, it is important for the person to employ and further apply the various principles of logic. 

Argument is often formed by taking together the premises, which are the reasons people employ to support a particular position on an ethical issue and the conclusion that emanates from the position itself. Therefore, for an argument to be considered valid, it must employ a structure that in principle must yield true conclusions based on true premises. Fallacy is a term used to denote an unacceptable way of thinking or valid reasoning. There are two types of fallacy; formal and informal fallacies. Particularly, formal fallacies are often committed to the actual logical structure of an argument and are always east to recognize while informal fallacies are often committed to a fallacy of relevance by assuming the premises that are not relevant to the conclusion. 

Conclusively, every individual should be aware that there exist various formal and informal flaws in thinking and reasoning. Therefore, critical thinking and its analysis is an important topic of discussion, especially when all ethical theories as well as ethical issues are applied. Although a person may encounter various opinions and arguments, it is important to note that not all arguments and opinions an individual will encounter are well-founded, good, or of sound judgments. Skills acquired in this chapter will be of great in formulating personal views and expressing them convincingly to others.