What does it mean to think critically? Critical thinking is intentional thinking aimed at some goal. These goals represent two ways that most people think critically. They are knowledge and achievement.
The Knowledge Approach
In philosophy, critical thinking involves using logic to carefully examine your own beliefs, as well as, the beliefs of others. You weigh evidence and clearly state one’s reasons for your worldview.
The Achievement Approach
Rhetoric, the art of persuasion, can also be viewed as an achievement based critical thinking. The goal would be to persuade some viewer, reader, or listener to take some action or believe something to be true. People can be persuaded to do wrong or right and to believe the truth or falsehood.
This approach to critical thinking is akin to the problem-solution method for thinking. However, in the problem-solution method of thinking you begin with your problem and end with you goal (solution)
In conclusion, knowing these two approaches will help you to act with intention and more effectively by using the appropriate mode of thought to achieve some end or learn a truth.