Quickstart: Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is about analysing data and arguments to reach a conclusion or make a decision. In innovation and business context it is most often about making the best possible decision under the circumstances.

One pathway towards becoming a more critical think is becoming aware of numerous logical fallacies and cognitive biases that plague us. Here is how to get started today:

1. Begin by reading "Improve your thinking to avert bad decisions" to understand four steps for improving decision making skills.
2. Then watch "Avoid stupid decisions: most common cognitive biases and logical fallacies" (58 min) to learn more about the sources of bad decisions, ten frequent logical fallacies, ten common cognitive biases, and ways to improve decision making.
3. Finally, study "24 most common logical fallacies" and "24 most common cognitive biases" lists. Pick one logical fallacy and cognitive biases you have experienced recently and reflect on it.

Doing the above will take you two hours and might lead to discovery of something undesirable. On the positive side, it will also make you a more critical thinker.