How to Think Critically and Why Critical Thinking Has Become Crucial

As human beings, we all think, and to think seems so obvious to us as we have thousands of thoughts emerging and subsiding inside our heads. But we are not clear in terms of how we construct our thoughts, how we derive conclusions and assert our claims, what makes us think, and why we ignore thinking on crucial occasions. We also don’t know whether our thinking is reactive or reflective.

Psychologist and economist, Daniel Kahneman has divided all our thinking impulses and patterns into two basic dimensions: system 1 and system 2 thinking, also known as fast and slow thinking. System 1 is related to reactive thinking; in this mode of thinking, we derive quick conclusions and make fast decisions based on intuitions, impulsive opinions, and emotional responses. When we react, we usually think in a way that confirms our biases, prejudices, established opinions, other people's influences, and ignorance. whereas system 2 thinking is a slow, deliberate, and rational decision-making process, where we derive conclusions based on careful analysis and evaluation of available information and alternatives.