What does it mean to think critically?

Why are some people better than others at solving problems and making decisions? The answer seems obvious:
Some people are smarter than others. But being smart isn’t enough. People who follow broad rules like “We can’t
ignore anything” are playing it too safe. We should ignore some things because they are improbable. It is
unreasonable to do a bomb search on the advice of a psychic tip because there is no evidence that psychic tips are
any more reliable than flipping a coin or throwing darts at a board. What if the psychic said that her parrot told
her—telepathically—that there was a bomb on the plane? Would you do a search on such evidence? If you would,
you are not thinking very critically. Had you detained the psychic, you might have interrogated her while having
her investigated. Has she made these kinds of claims before? What about her claim to have solved crimes using
only her psychic powers? Do you think that Larry King or Montel Williams had her claims investigated? (In fact,
your boss gets on the Internet and within five minutes finds a Web site that notes that a reputable
investigative journalist has dug into the psychic’s claims about solving crimes and found that none of her claims
were true.)
Why are some people better than others at supporting their beliefs and actions with good reasons? Again, the
answer seems obvious: Some people have more knowledge or are more eloquent than others. Still, two equally
intelligent people can be equally articulate and knowledgeable, but not be equally good thinkers. If only one of
them is thinking critically, that one will be better at analyzing and evaluating facts and opinions, sources
and claims, options and alternatives. The critical thinker will be a better problem-solver and better decision-maker.
When we’re thinking critically, we’re using our knowledge and intelligence effectively to arrive at the most
reasonable and justifiable position possible. When we’re thinking uncritically--no matter how intelligent or
knowledgeable we are--we’ll make unreasonable decisions and arrive at unreasonable beliefs or take unjustifiable
actions, unless we are lucky and end up making the right choice for the wrong reasons! For example, imagine that
the search crew finds a bomb. You’re vindicated, right? Not necessarily. If it turns out that the psychic planted the
bomb herself in order to make it look like she really had psychic powers so she could advance her career, but you
had the plane searched because you thought a psychic might actually be able to know such things by paranormal
means, then you made the right decision by pure luck. You should have had the plane searched, but you should
have held and interrogated the psychic. If a bomb is found, it would be reasonable to infer that the psychic had
non-psychic information about the bomb and might even have been involved in planting it. It would not be
reasonable to infer that the “psychic” is really psychic. As your boss said, there is little, if any, evidence that any
psychic anywhere has ever correctly predicted when a bomb had been placed on a plane. On the other hand, there
are plenty of examples where people have lied and deceived in order to advance their careers or to get attention.
The goal of thinking critically is simple: to guarantee, as far as possible, that one’s beliefs and actions are
justifiable and can withstand the test of rational analysis. Just what do we do when we’re thinking critically? In
general terms, we can say that to think critically is to think clearly, accurately, knowledgeably, and fairly while
evaluating the reasons for a belief or for taking some action. This is sometimes easier said than done. Later in this
chapter we will review some of the main factors that will limit or hinder even the most diligent and intelligent
among us from being successful critical thinkers. But first, let’s look at the standards that guide a critical thinker.