Four Elements of CT

Good critical thinking depends upon mastering four elements: concepts, skills, ethics, and impediments. Each of these elements is discussed below.

Examples
Basic: Facts and claims. First-hand and second-hand evidence.

Intermediate: The qualities of sound methods. Casual and scientific evidence.

Advanced: Prior plausibility of a fact claim. Probability of outcomes.

Examples
Basic: Using sound methods. Hypothesizing. Gathering evidence.

Intermediate: Devising sound methods. Evaluating evidence. Devising arguments.

Advanced: Calculating probabilities. Identifying thinking errors in arguments. Identifying the expert consensus.

Examples
Basic: Valuing knowing the truth over winning an argument. Honesty.

Intermediate: Evaluating arguments on their merit, regardless of the motive behind them. Intellectual humility.

Advanced: Intellectual charity. Civil discourse.

Examples
Basic: Arguments from memory. Arguments from authority.

Intermediate: Motivated reasoning. Arguments from ignorance.

Advanced: Implicit bias. Insufficient or skewed access to information.