Week 2 - The Elements of Reasoning and Standards of Critical Thinking
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Introduction
The elements of reasoning (also called the "elements of thought" or the "parts of thinking") help us understand our thinking. They are the essential elements that are present whenever reasoning is taking place, regardless of whether we are reasoning well or poorly. The elements are non-linear and function interdependently like the parts of the human body--one cannot function independently of the others.
Recognizing the elements is the first step to thinking critically. The second step is to analyze the elements of reasoning in our own thinking and in that of others. This is done by applying the intellectual standards of thinking to each element of reasoning. Critical thinkers routinely ask questions that apply intellectual standards to thinking in order to assess the quality of the thinking.
