Tips to improve your critical thinking

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Every day, a sea of decisions?stretches before us.

Some are small and unimportant,?but others have a larger impact? on our lives.

無時無刻，我們都在做各種各樣的決定。

有些微不足道，有些則對我們的一生都有很大影響。

For example, which politician should I vote for?

Should I try the latest diet craze?

Or will email make me a millionaire?

We're bombarded with so many decisions?that it's impossible to make? a perfect choice every time.

比如說，我該投票給哪個政客？

要不要試試最新的減肥食譜？

或是，這封電郵會讓我成為百萬富翁嗎？

我們被大量的決定圍攻著，很多時候都沒法做出最好的決定。

But there are many ways? to improve our chances,?and one particularly effective technique is critical thinking.

This is a way of approaching a question?that allows us to carefully? deconstruct a situation,

reveal its hidden issues, such as bias and manipulation,?and make the best decision.

但還有很多提高正確幾率方法，其中最有效的方法之一就是 批判性思維。

這種解決問題的思維方式，能讓我們更仔細地分析形勢，

發(fā)現(xiàn)隱藏的問題，比如一些偏見和操縱，并作出更好的選擇。

If the critical part sounds negative that's because in a way it is.

Rather than choosing an answer?because it feels right, a person who uses critical thinking subjects all available options to scrutiny and skepticism.

Using the tools at their disposal,?they'll eliminate everything but the most useful and reliable information.

如果你覺得“批判性”有點兒否定意味， 那正說明它在起作用。

一個具有批判性思維的人，不會因為哪個聽起來不錯就選哪個，

而會仔細審查每一個選擇，并抱有懷疑態(tài)度。

他們會用一切手段排除其他選項，只留下最有用最有用、最值得信賴的信息。

There are many different ways of approaching critical thinking,?

but here's one five-step process?that may help you solve?any number of problems.

有很多運用批判性思維的方法，

這里講的方法，只需五步，可以幫你解決各種問題。

One: formulate your question.

In other words,? know what you're looking for.

This isn't always as straightforward? as it sounds.

For example, if you're deciding whether to try out the newest diet craze,

your reasons for doing so may be obscured by other factors, like claims that you'll see results in just two weeks.

But if you approach the situation with a clear view of what you're?actually trying to accomplish by dieting, whether that's weight loss,?better nutrition,?or having more energy,

that'll equip you to sift through? this information critically,?find what you're looking for,?and decide whether the new fad really suits your needs.

第一：明確你的問題。

換句話說，知道你想要什么。

這有時并不如想象中的直接。

比如說，你在考慮嘗試最近流行的飲食方法，

這種方法聲稱”兩周內(nèi)就能看到效果”，你的初衷可能被其它因素而遮蓋。

但如果你面對選擇時有更明晰的觀點，你真正想要通過這個飲食方法達到什么效果——

為了減重也好，為了更均衡的營養(yǎng)也好，或是為了更有活力，

就使你更批判地篩選信息，從而找到你真正想要的答案，決定這個點子是否能真正符合你的需要。

Two: gather your information.

There's lots of it out there,?so having a clear idea of your question will help you determine what's relevant.

If you're trying to decide on a diet to improve your nutrition,?you may ask an expert for their advice,?or seek other people's testimonies.

Information gathering helps you weigh different options,?moving you closer to a decision that meets your goal.

第二：搜集信息。

信息無所不在，所以明晰你的問題 可以幫你決定哪些信息是有用的。

如果你想通過飲食方式來攝取更多營養(yǎng)，你可以咨詢下營養(yǎng)師，或是向他人尋求經(jīng)驗。

搜集幫助你權衡不同方案，使你做出更接近目標的決定。

Three: apply the information

Something you do? by asking critical questions.

Facing a decision, ask yourself, "What concepts are at work?"

"What assumptions exist?"

"Is my interpretation of the information logically sound?"

For example, in an email that promises you millions,

?you should consider, "What is shaping my approach to this situation?"

"Do I assume the sender? is telling the truth?"

"Based on the evidence, is it logical? to assume I'll win any money?"

第三：運用信息

可以通過問關鍵性問題對信息加以運用。

面對一個選擇時，問問自己 “哪些概念要用到？”

“存在幾種假設？”

“我對信息的解讀符合邏輯嗎？”

比如，一個郵件聲稱能讓你成為百萬富翁，

你可以考慮下面幾個問題： “什么因素決定我對此做出判斷？”

我認為發(fā)件人說的是實話嗎？”

“從現(xiàn)實來看，我有可能贏錢嗎？”

Four: consider the implications.

Imagine it's election time,?and you've selected a political candidate based on their promise?to make it cheaper for drivers to fill up on gas.

At first glance, that seems great.

But what about the long-term? environmental effects?

If gasoline use is less? restricted by cost,?this could also cause a huge surge in air pollution,?an unintended consequence?that's important to think about.

第四，考慮后果及影響。

想象一下現(xiàn)在是大選期，你選擇支持一個候選人是因為他承諾要讓汽油更便宜。

初聽上去還不錯。

但長期來講會對環(huán)境造成什么影響？

如果不用高價限制汽油的使用，大氣污染將變得極其嚴重，而這是必須考慮的一個意外后果。

Five: explore other points of view.

Ask yourself why so many people are drawn?to the policies of? the opposing political candidate.

Even if you disagree with? everything that candidate says,?exploring the full spectrum of viewpoints?might explain why some policies that don't seem valid to you appeal to others.

This will allow you? to explore alternatives,?evaluate your own choices,?and ultimately help you make more informed decisions.

第五：了解其他觀點。

問問自己為什么那么多人被對方候選人政策吸引。

即使你一點都不認同那個候選人所說的，你也要探究他的一系列觀點，弄清楚為什么他的政策你覺得沒用，但別人喜歡。

你就讓你能進一步探究其他選擇，衡量你自己的選項，最后做出更好的決定。

This five-step process is just one tool,?and it certainly won't eradicate difficult decisions from our lives.

But it can help us increase? the number of positive choices we make.

Critical thinking can give us the tools to sift through a sea of information?and find what we're looking for.

And if enough of us use it, it?has the power to make the world a more reasonable place.

這五個步驟僅僅是工具，也不可能完全消除我們所面對的難題。

但卻可以幫我們做出更多更好的決定。

批判性思維方式能幫我們篩選信息，找到我們真正想要的。

而且如果更多的人具備批判性思維的能力，這個世界將變得更加理性。