Tok Essay: Critical and Creative Thinking
Wilde
Theory of Knowledge
3 May 2012
TOK Essay Response: Critical and Creative Thinking Since the dawn of humanity, man has sought to gain further insight on life through attaining knowledge. Knowledge can be defined as any information gained through personal experience. The means of obtaining knowledge include four main branches: reason, perception, language, and emotion. Despite the means, all knowledge is formulated through the process of thinking. Thinking refers to the use of the mind to gain understanding of the world. In the modern educational system, students are trained to think critically and apply gathered information to generate knowledge. However, schools also stress the idea of being original, using one’s own creative mind to form new ideas. In the areas of natural sciences and mathematics, critical thinking is primarily conceived as the most valued way of thought. On the contrary, creative thought is more highly coveted in areas of art and literature. In the pursuit of finding new information, which form of thinking is more highly appreciated? Or are both equally important? Can critical thinking be applied to literature and art? Can creative thinking manifest in science and math? Although the degree to which both forms of thinking will vary in each area of knowledge (AOK), all knowledge is acquired through an amalgamation of thought from both the left and right side of the human brain. Within this essay, the two areas of knowledge, natural sciences and arts, will be considered in evaluating the interaction of critical and creative thinking as a methods of generating knowledge. Before full understanding of the prompt can be achieved, addressing the ambiguities in the definitions of several key terms will be necessary. Critical thinking is a process of thinking that uses reason and logic to evaluate the validity of assumptions. According to Edward Glaser, teacher at the Colombia University, critical thinking is (1) an attitude of being
Theory of Knowledge
3 May 2012
TOK Essay Response: Critical and Creative Thinking Since the dawn of humanity, man has sought to gain further insight on life through attaining knowledge. Knowledge can be defined as any information gained through personal experience. The means of obtaining knowledge include four main branches: reason, perception, language, and emotion. Despite the means, all knowledge is formulated through the process of thinking. Thinking refers to the use of the mind to gain understanding of the world. In the modern educational system, students are trained to think critically and apply gathered information to generate knowledge. However, schools also stress the idea of being original, using one’s own creative mind to form new ideas. In the areas of natural sciences and mathematics, critical thinking is primarily conceived as the most valued way of thought. On the contrary, creative thought is more highly coveted in areas of art and literature. In the pursuit of finding new information, which form of thinking is more highly appreciated? Or are both equally important? Can critical thinking be applied to literature and art? Can creative thinking manifest in science and math? Although the degree to which both forms of thinking will vary in each area of knowledge (AOK), all knowledge is acquired through an amalgamation of thought from both the left and right side of the human brain. Within this essay, the two areas of knowledge, natural sciences and arts, will be considered in evaluating the interaction of critical and creative thinking as a methods of generating knowledge. Before full understanding of the prompt can be achieved, addressing the ambiguities in the definitions of several key terms will be necessary. Critical thinking is a process of thinking that uses reason and logic to evaluate the validity of assumptions. According to Edward Glaser, teacher at the Colombia University, critical thinking is (1) an attitude of being
Cited: Glaser, Edward M. An Experiment in the Development of Critical Thinking. New York: AMS, 1972. Print. Hurson, Tim. Think Better: An Innovator 's Guide to Productive Thinking : (your Company 's Future Depends on It -- and so Does Yours). New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. Print.