Critical thinkers. What are some characteristics of critical thinkers? Do they have innate abilities that make them better at thinking critically? In module five and six, we will examine eight characteristics of critical thinkers. The four characteristics we will discuss in module five are active listening, curiosity, self discipline, humility, active listening, we have all heard it before the best communicators are active listeners. What does it mean to practice active listening?

Active listening means the listener is completely engaged in what the speaker is communicating and judging what is being said the listener is not formulating his rebuttal or responses to the speaker. Or even worse thinking about something else. I'm related Be curious. Curiosity is yet another skill in developing critical thinking. Some scholars believe that Socrates ultimate goal was not so much to advocate as methods but to advocate self improvement, and to spark curiosity, the main goal of a teacher is to spark curiosity and engage their students. There are many methods to engage curiosity, but they all essentially involve raising a question.

For instance, Einstein prompted his curiosity by asking questions about how matter and energy functioned. disciplined reasoning and rationale are often associated with self discipline. Critical thinking is a self disciplined and self guided action. Critical Thinking requires the individual to use their own reasoning skills and have the ability to evaluate and reflect. One important thing to consider is that people who are critical thinkers commonly are also more empathetic and aware of of their world. They show a commitment to self development and strive to make their environments a better place.

Be humble. Humility is defined as the quality of being modest of opinion or estimate of one's own importance. Humility is the opposite of arrogance. Humility relates having an open mind. To be receptive to new information or opinions, the critical thinker would have to be modest of their own opinion. being humble allows you to accept and see information in a way that's not filtered through your ego.