Critical thinking and critical reflection

The term critical thinking has a range of uses, and it is worthwhile separating them out.  In secondary education, it is used to cover the analysis and evaluation of arguments rather than evidence (ie the logic and rhetoric part of philosophy), and more generally it has been used for an ideological process of self-analysis (deriving from Marxist Critical Social Theory), or to describe 'thinking about thinking'. It is this last use that I adopt in trying to develop self-awareness as an intellectual tool, “active interpretation and evaluation of observations”.  The habit of monitoring our internal mental narrative allows us, when we choose, to step outside the involved and active flow of thought  and view it dispassionately.  Such a practice has strong links to the skills of Emotional Intelligence, acknowledging and recognising  our feelings as they arise, and potentially directing them.        

Critical reflection applies a similar approach to past events: if reflection is remembering past actions, critical reflection is examining past actions in order to learn for the future, and therefore involves elements of distance and judgement. My definition is "purposeful thought about experience to understand and learn for the future"   It lies at the heart of Jack Mezirow's  Transformational Learning.  

Glossary

FLOW (mental state)
A concept defined by Mihaly Csiksentmihalyi for the state of mental awareness experienced when someone is undertaking a difficult task requiring effort and discipline, and find that  they are so completely absorbed and productive that no effort is required.  

About this blog

Modern management training is much less about process mapping and cost control than it is about self-knowledge and understanding colleagues.  I have attended several Wales Public Service Summer Schools organised by the Welsh Assembly Government's Public Services Management Wales, after which I have developed and interest in helping managers to explore the intersection between critical thinking, reflection  and creativity, which is, I believe, the key to effective and effortless personal development.

On this blog I will explore some of these ideas and, I hope, create a coherent programme of action to support people on their journey towards productive thought.