Category: Critical Thinking

Takeaway

The Life Class on Critical Thinking and Systems Thinking was very insightful and gave me several practical tools that I can apply in both my personal and professional life.

One of my key takeaways was understanding the difference between reflex and reflect. Instead of reacting immediately to a situation, I need to pause, reflect, and think more deeply before forming an opinion or making a decision.

The concept of the Four Thinkers – Preacher, Prosecutor, Politician and Scientist was particularly useful. It made me realise how easily we can fall into the first three ways of thinking when we are trying to prove that we are right, defend our beliefs, or convince others. The Scientist mindset encourages us to stay curious, question our assumptions, look for evidence and be open to changing our thinking.

Another important learning was to avoid using absolute terms such as always, never, everyone, or no one. These words can make our thinking rigid and may not accurately represent reality.

I found the approach to evaluating research and information extremely practical. Whenever I come across a research finding or claim, I can ask:

• Which research is being referred to?
• Who conducted it?
• What exactly was measured?
• How large was the sample?
• What was it compared with?
• Does the research show correlation or causation?

The decision-making process was another useful takeaway. Before reaching a conclusion, I should clearly identify the topic, understand the explanation, examine the claim and counterclaim, and then arrive at a balanced conclusion.

The distinction between the Threat System and the Response System was also eye-opening. It helped me understand how our reactions can change depending on which system is activated and reminded me of the importance of creating a pause before responding.

Overall, the session encouraged me to think again rather than react quickly. I would like to consciously apply these tools when analysing information, making decisions, responding to situations, and encouraging critical thinking in my students.

In our first session, what stood out for me was the idea of Systems Thinking — System 1 and System 2, understanding reflexive/inituitive versus reflective thinking, and the different ways we approach situations through the four “thinkers” — the Preacher, Prosecutor, Politician and Scientist. It made me reflect on how easily we become attached to defending what we already believe, rather than staying open to questioning and examining our thinking.

In our second class, I particularly enjoyed unmasking cognitive illusions and understanding how our minds can sometimes lead us to assumptions that may not necessarily be true. The activity of taking a belief, finding a counterclaim, and being willing to modify or rethink that belief was especially powerful. The idea of attaching our ideas, not our identities, resonated strongly with me. When a belief becomes part of our identity, questioning it can feel like questioning who we are. Separating our identity from our ideas allows us to be more open-minded, curious and willing to change our thinking when new evidence emerges.

​The biggest takeaway was learning to step back and act like a curious investigator instead. By separating pure emotion from actual reality, questioning my first instincts, and digging deeper into what holds up under pressure, I’ve started making much clearer, grounded decisions. It completely changed how I weigh information before reaching a final verdict.