5 Critical thinking

 

This chapter covers

  • The five steps of a typical creative process
  • Focused and diffuse thinking modes
  • Using creativity as the means or the goal, depending on the intentions
  • Common critical thinking fallacies

The chaotic mixture of loud voices and fragrant spices marks yet another busy day at the agora, the hub of the ancient Athenian empire. Shopkeepers are engaged in a fierce bidding war to get rid of their dried fish, olives, sandals, dirt on local politicians, amphorae, goat milk, lawsuits, givers of evidence, figs, and bread. You want something; they’ve got it. In the midst of the yelling and cursing, a stocky and aging man—barefooted and flat nosed, almost unkempt—felt right at home. Socrates peppered every single being he encountered with annoying questions during his daily strolls in the vicinity of the agora. His motto was “Know what you don’t know.”

On the other side of Athens, sophist teachers specializing in subjects such as mathematics, music, philosophy, or—the gods forbid—a craft were busy teaching virtues to the few wealthy Greeks who could afford it. Sophists, traveling experts and skilled talkers, had one thing in common: whatever they did not know, they pretended to know to impress or persuade their audience. A few sophists even claimed to have the answers to all questions.

5.1 Creative critical thinking

5.2 The creative process

5.2.1 Verifying critically

5.2.2 Focused thinking

5.2.3 Diffuse thinking

5.2.4 Combining diffuse and focused thinking

5.3 Creativity is the means, not the goal

5.4 Common critical thinking fallacies

5.4.1 Cross-language clashes

5.4.2 The superior flash of insight

5.4.3 Ignorance and Deliberate Discovery

5.4.4 I am the greatest

5.4.5 I am the fanciest

5.4.6 First-Google-hit coding