Philosophy of Critical Thinking

A branch of philosophy that examines the nature, norms, and foundations of critical thinking. It asks: what constitutes a good reason? What are the standards of logical validity, soundness, and evidence? It distinguishes critical thinking from mere skepticism or contrarianism. It also explores the ethical dimensions: is critical thinking intrinsically good? Can it be used to rationalize prejudice? It draws on epistemology, logic, and informal fallacy theory. The philosophy of critical thinking provides the normative framework that the sociology of critical thinking studies empirically.

Example: “The philosophy of critical thinking asks: is ‘critical thinking’ the same as logical reasoning? Or does it include emotional intelligence, intellectual humility, and awareness of one’s own biases? The answer determines how we teach it.”

Philosophy of Critical Thinking by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal June 1, 2026