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Using Critical Thinking to Take Charge of How We See Things

As in the case of all the elements, one takes charge of their point of view by practicing bringing it out into the open. The more we recognize point of view at work in our thinking and in the thinking of others, the more points of view we learn to think within, the more effectively will we use point of view in our thinking.

Test the Idea
Practice in Making Explicit Our Point of View

What follows is a list of possible objects of our thinking. Choose from this list seven possible ones to think about. Then identify how you would look at each, from your point of view. For example, you might decide, "When I look at people, I see a struggle to find happiness" or, "When I look at the future, I see myself as a lawyer taking cases that protect the environment" or, "When I look at the health care system, I see a system that does not provide adequately for the poor." Once you write your sentence, see if you can further characterize how what you said explains your point of view.

life

my future

lifelong learning

men

the problems we face as a nation

the future

women

the problems we face as a species

welfare

human conflict

mass transportation

welfare recipients

learning

the environment

drug use

the past

people without health insurance

science

politics

our health care system

human values

power

modern lifestyle

abortions

art

the modern American city

the police

television

New Age ideas

elections

computers

human sexuality

vegetarians

the news

marriage

liberals

my economic future

life in America

conservatives

education in the future

religion

income tax

radicals

Complete the following, given the seven objects you have chosen to look at:

  1. When I look at ____________________, I see (from my point of view)

  2. When I look at ____________________, I see (from my point of view)

  3. When I look at ____________________, I see (from my point of view)

  4. When I look at ____________________, I see (from my point of view)

  5. When I look at ____________________, I see (from my point of view)

  6. When I look at ____________________, I see (from my point of view)

  7. When I look at ____________________, I see (from my point of view)

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