Four Steps To Sharpen Your Critical Thinking

As uncomfortable as this truth is, I’m afraid it is true to say that most people are not very competent at critical thinking. Even people I love and value dearly frequently make attempts at critical thinking that range from somewhat inadequate to absolutely hopeless. If you’re curious about where you stand on this matter, I can offer some quick-fix methods for sharpening your critical reasoning skills in a matter of minutes.

If you get these first two steps right, it’ll eliminate maybe 80-90% of your errors:

Step 1
Define your terms precisely, and be clear about what you’re trying to conclude or understand. Unless you get step 1 right you can’t be sure you’re on the path to understanding the situation or solving the right problem. 

Step 2
It’s essential to understand that an argument becomes irrational not simply by containing fallacies but by relying on them to reach its conclusion. If a person’s argument can stand on its own without the fallacious reasoning, then the argument is rational even if fallacies are present. The key takeaway is that the conclusion itself is not dependent on these errors in reasoning. This is important because in many discussions, people may inadvertently include fallacious reasoning, yet their overall argument remains logically sound without it. Rational belief or argument, when stripped of fallacies, should still have evidence or logical reasoning that makes it probable or plausible. Conversely, an argument that collapses when fallacies are removed is highly likely to be defective, reflecting an irrational position. Awareness of this is an effective way to discern whether an argument is grounded in logic or only appears plausible to you due to fallacies you’re not noticing. So, the statement is valid in that it differentiates between an argument that merely contains fallacies and one that depends on them, with rationality hinging on whether or not the conclusion can stand on evidence and reason without these fallacies. This distinction helps avoid what’s called the ‘fallacy fallacy’ (the mistaken belief that an argument with any fallacies is entirely invalid). Here are a couple of examples.

Example 1
Argument: Exercise leads to a longer life.

Fallacious reasoning: Everyone who lives past 90 exercises regularly.

Conclusion: This line of reasoning obviously involves a hasty generalisation, because it exaggerates the role of exercise in longevity without considering other factors. However, extensive evidence does support that regular exercise can improve lifespan and quality of life, meaning the argument is sound without needing to rely on this fallacy.

Example 2

Argument: Reducing government regulations helps businesses grow and stimulates the economy.

Fallacious reasoning: All regulations are bad because they restrict growth and freedom.

Conclusion: All regulations are not bad; some help promote growth and freedom. However, targeted deregulation often correlates with reduced costs and increased flexibility for businesses, which can stimulate growth.

These examples show how fallacies can be present in an argument without making it irrational, as long as the argument’s core conclusions can stand without relying on these flawed reasoning paths. Conversely, an argument that collapses entirely without its fallacies (such as those using only exaggerated fears or appeals to emotion) would lack rational basis.

With a clear understanding of fallacies, let’s move to examining assumptions - which is another key part of critical thinking:

Step 3
Identify the fundamental assumptions underlying your initial beliefs or arguments, and question their validity. Assumptions are often invisible, but they usually heavily influence conclusions. By scrutinising and testing them, you reduce the chance of being blindsided by hidden biases, or of going askew by faulty underlying assumptions.

Step 4
Do your best to present an honest, well thought through set of counter-arguments – as if you were arguing for the view you claim to reject. Not only does this add the finishing touches to steps 1-3, it also sharpens your critical reasoning skills, and invites you to either reconsider your own position, or strengthen it further if it can’t easily be counter-argued.

In summary, the core guidance is to define your terms and arguments clearly, understand that you’re in need of a re-think if the argument depends on fallacies to be convincing, look for underlying assumptions that might be skewing or undermining your argument, and be thoroughly cognisant of all the best counter-arguments to your position. By following these steps, you’ll develop a more rigorous approach to evaluating arguments.