Critical Thinking Is a Noble Endeavor--A Response to Paul's Question: An Invited Essay

Paul (2018a, 2018b) discussed the concept of critical thinking in a series of "American Annals of the Deaf" editorials examining how critical thinking might serve as a "springboard" to deep knowledge or wisdom and wondering if critical thinking should be viewed as a noble endeavor or hopeless cause. Paul explored three questions in which he considered (a) types of critical thinkers, (b) teaching and evaluating critical thinking, and (c) empathy's role in critical thinking. Responding to Paul, the author focuses on the same questions by summarizing Paul's view, then following with his own. He also explores the question "What is critical thinking?" Mostly, the author's views resemble Paul's, but he elaborates on places where he thinks gaps or possible misunderstandings exist. The author concludes that critical thinking is indeed a noble endeavor because it is not just what you think that matters, but how you think.