17 Principles of sound reasoning and critical thinking
Principles of sound reasoning and critical thinking
Now that you have explored some of the characteristics of Stage Four, Five and Six thinkers, we want you do dig more deeply in the standards that underpin sound reasoning. For the moment, we are referring to all forms of expression that can be shared in your context. These phases and the principles we discuss here, apply to spoken, written, videoed, and any other forms of reasoning and thinking that we create, engage in, and evaluate from other sources.
Universal standards of sound reasoning
These are standards that apply when we set out to evaluate the quality of reasoning about a problem, issue or situation.1 To keep things more straight forward we will use ‘issue’ as the standard expression for these three concepts: problem, issue or situation.
We will use specific terms when it better fits the topic.
These standards help us to be able to apply sound reasoning and critical thinking to our own thinking and communication, as well as evaluate reasoning and critical thinking.
The nine core principles of sound reasoning and critical thinking are:
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clarity
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accuracy
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precision
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relevance
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depth
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breadth
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logic
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significance
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fairness.
Phase one – objectivity
In this phase of the assessment, the principles are related to assessing how objective a statement is likely to be:
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This is the first stage of sound reasoning. If the argument is not clear, we can’t determine whether or not it is accurate or relevant. In fact, we can’t really make any suitable judgement at all about reasoning or critical thinking.
Action: Determine if the statement is clear.
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A statement may be clear without being accurate.
Action: Check the statement to be sure that whilst it may be clear, it is also accurate. You need to conduct additional research to be sure of accuracy.
A statement can be clear and accurate but not precise.
Action: Follow the steps:
1. Clarity
2. Accuracy.
If both are on track, check for accuracy. As in the previous step, this may require additional research on your part to be sure of precision.
A statement may be clear, accurate, and precise. That does not mean it is relevant. In your Primer exercise you explored the impact of irrelevant details!
Action: After checking for the previous factors, look for the sequence of relevance in the statement. Does each part of the statement relate to the main point of the argument?
Phase two – quality
In this phase of the assessment of the quality of reasoning and thinking, the principles are related to the quality and value of the statement. Note that a statement could rate highly in the following principles but still in essence lack objectivity:
A statement can have all of the previous qualities but add limited value to the argument. Depth helps to communicate and address issues of complexity and richness.
Action: Support the statement with insights that add meaning.
Whilst all of the above principles can be met, unless the statement addresses alternate views, conflicting ideas and alternate theories, it could be considered to have ignored and avoided relevant context.
Action: Include a well-reasoned argument that looks at significant alternate views or theories, as necessary, to support the statement.
Thinking and reasoning signify a set of thoughts that are assembled in some order and sequence. Logical thought has ideas and concepts that support each other and make sense in combination. A natural outcome of sound logic is a hypothesis or series of insights that are open to be rigorously tested in a structured manner.
Action: When statements have been completed, a good test is to ‘sense-test’ them with a structured process. One quick way is to check our assumptions when we are evaluating someone’s logic or exploring our own. By moving sentence by sentence we can link the various pieces of the argument and test them against others. Logic becomes like a relay race. We hand the baton from one person to the next, and the baton must continue on its journey.
Complex issues tend to include multiple variables and factors as part of the sets of statements that are necessary to develop the thinking and logic.
Action: Structure the set of statements that are relevant to each variable in a sequence that puts the most significant variables first, and in an order that supports logic.
This is a principle of reasoning that can be the most challenging when we are reasoning from our own viewpoint. Our personal viewpoint includes our opinion, personal beliefs, feelings, and interests.
Action: When we are evaluating reasoning or building our reasoning around an issue in the Army context, it is essential that we keep fairness top of mind. We work to be aware of our viewpoints and perspective. We acknowledge to ourselves our reactions to things that are different to our viewpoint. A structured check of our thinking using the above steps can be very useful when we need to check ourselves.
Now that you have had a chance to read the nine core principles of sound reasoning and critical thinking, we want you to stop for a moment and review your learning to date. This is a lot to take in and it is a good idea to go and do something that relates to your everyday work. This will also help to put you in a good place to go onto the next exercise!
References
- Hawkins, D., Elder, L., & Paul, R. (2019). The Thinker’s Guide to Clinical Reasoning: Based on Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools. Rowman & Littlefield.
