Critical Thinking and Perception Paper

Critical Thinking and Perception Paper

Abstract

What is critical thinking? Critical thinking as I understand it is the type of thinking that

can be expressed verbally or written. Everything that a person does is connected to thinking.

We have many barriers that can cloud or distort our thinking. Our perceptions of our thoughts,

and beliefs, are what we tend to want to see, or what we need to see, or what it is that we expect

to see due to our own upbringing, or what we have developed during our life. (Kirby,

Goodpaster; Critical Thinking pg. 27)

To me, I see critical thinking as something that we do everyday from the time that we get up

in the morning until the time that we go to bed. The book says that critical thinking is what can

be seen or heard; however the thinking that is unexpressed I value greatly, and it has helped me

in numerous situations that I have had to face. When I am really thinking about something, most

of the time what is unspoken means more, than what I have said. I understand that not everyone

can hear or see my thoughts, but sometimes they are meant for only me and no one else. Just the

very idea of being able to express myself without words to someone helps me to deal with

problems that arise.

My perception of critical thinking, when you speak out to someone it is nothing more

than a debate session with him or her. Everyone perceives things in a different way, and you can

express your thoughts and feelings all day to someone, but you cannot get that person to change

their perceptions or their ways of thinking. Why would you want to? That is what makes a

person an individual. That is who they are and possibly the way that they were brought up, why

would you want to change them.

Perception is reality? (Syllabus, Week one Assignment) This can be perceived in so

many ways, that it would take forever to explain. What one person perceives as reality, may