¶ … action that has been developed in Western culture over many centuries. While we can trace the origins of this term to the Greek and Socratic philosophers, it has a special relevance to theory and practice in the twentieth century. In the mid-twentieth century critical thinking became a much debated and contemporary subject that was linked to the rationalistic and interrogative mode of scientific inquiry (Defining Critical Thinking, para. 3). Critical thinking is in essence a form of thought that places the very way that we make decisions and understand and interpret ideas and concepts into question. A commonly accepted definition of critical thinking is as follows.

Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action. (Defining Critical Thinking, para.3)

In other words, stated very simply, the central aspect of critical thinking is not taking things for granted and by using data, reason and various analytical tools and methods, to ascertain the validly or otherwise of a decision or action.

Another more succinct definition of critical thinking expands on certain aspects noted above. "Critical thinking means correct thinking in the pursuit of relevant and reliable knowledge about the world. Another way to describe it is reasonable, reflective, responsible, and skillful thinking that is focused on deciding what to believe or do" (Schafersman, 1991, para.7). Critical thinking therefore places emphasis on reason and analysis but also on synthesis of data...

7). An expert succinctly summarise the intentions and purpose of critical thinking as follows: "we can say that critical thinking is the questioning or inquiry we engage in when we seek to understand, evaluate, or resolve" (Fowler, para. 7).
Another important characteristic of critical thinking is that it attempts to be as unbiased and objective as possible. "In its exemplary form, it is based on universal intellectual values that transcend subject matter" (Defining Critical Thinking, para.3). This refers to the view that critical thinking is not intended to be ideological or in favour of any one system or view but that it ideally takes into account every possible point-of-view in an attempt to ascertain the most correct and advisable conclusion to any problem.

This means that there is certain sense of ethics in the process of critical thinking, which can be described as an attempt to resolve any issue through a form of self-reflective and analytical thinking that is not biased in favour of personal or other proclivities. In this regard critical thinking has to take into account any assumptions or presumptions about a problem or issue before coming to a conclusion. The implications and consequences of thinking and decision making also have to be taken into account and form part of the critical thinking and reasoning process.

Lastly, critical thinking can also be described as a self-reflective or self-critical mode of thought. In other words, in this thought process one is always open to the interrogation…