What are the characteristics of critical thinker and non-critical thinker?

Answer 1

Critical Thinkers

1. · Are honest with themselves, acknowledging what they do not know, recognizing their limitations, and being watchful of their own errors.
2. · Regard problems and controversial issues as exciting challenges.
3. · Strive for understanding, keep curiosity alive, remain patient with complexity and ready to invest time to overcome confusion.
4. · Set aside personal preferences and base judgments on evidence, deferring judgment whenever evidence is insufficient. They revise judgments when new evidence reveals error.
5. · Are interested in other people's ideas, so are willing to read and listen attentively, even when they tend to disagree with the other person.
6. · Recognize that extreme views (whether conservative or liberal) are seldom correct*, so they avoid them, practice fair-mindedness, and seek a balanced view.
7. · Practice restraint, controlling their feelings rather than being controlled by them, and thinking before acting.

Uncritical Thinkers

1. · Pretend they know more than they do, ignore their limitations, and assume their views are error-free.
2. · Regard problems and controversial issues as nuisances or threats to their ego.
3. · Are impatient with complexity and thus would rather remain confused than make the effort to understand.
4. · Base judgments on first impressions and gut reactions. They are unconcerned about the amount or quality of evidence and cling to earlier views steadfastly.
5. · Are preoccupied with self and their own opinions, and so are unwilling to pay attention to others' views. At the first sign of disagreement they tend to think, "How can I refute this?"
6. · Ignore the need for balance and give preference to views that support their established views.
7. · Tend to follow their feelings and act impulsively.