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critical thinking

Definition of critical thinking

Examples of critical thinking in a sentence.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'critical thinking.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Dictionary Entries Near critical thinking

critical temperature

critical value

Cite this Entry

“Critical thinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/critical%20thinking. Accessed 13 Aug. 2024.

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Critical Thinking Definition, Skills, and Examples

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Critical thinking refers to the ability to analyze information objectively and make a reasoned judgment. It involves the evaluation of sources, such as data, facts, observable phenomena, and research findings.

Good critical thinkers can draw reasonable conclusions from a set of information, and discriminate between useful and less useful details to solve problems or make decisions. These skills are especially helpful at school and in the workplace, where employers prioritize the ability to think critically. Find out why and see how you can demonstrate that you have this ability.

Examples of Critical Thinking

The circumstances that demand critical thinking vary from industry to industry. Some examples include:

• A triage nurse analyzes the cases at hand and decides the order by which the patients should be treated.
• A plumber evaluates the materials that would best suit a particular job.
• An attorney reviews the evidence and devises a strategy to win a case or to decide whether to settle out of court.
• A manager analyzes customer feedback forms and uses this information to develop a customer service training session for employees.

Why Do Employers Value Critical Thinking Skills?

Employers want job candidates who can evaluate a situation using logical thought and offer the best solution.

Someone with critical thinking skills can be trusted to make decisions independently, and will not need constant handholding.

Hiring a critical thinker means that micromanaging won't be required. Critical thinking abilities are among the most sought-after skills in almost every industry and workplace. You can demonstrate critical thinking by using related keywords in your resume and cover letter and during your interview.

How to Demonstrate Critical Thinking in a Job Search

If critical thinking is a key phrase in the job listings you are applying for, be sure to emphasize your critical thinking skills throughout your job search.

Add Keywords to Your Resume

You can use critical thinking keywords (analytical, problem solving, creativity, etc.) in your resume. When describing your work history, include top critical thinking skills that accurately describe you. You can also include them in your resume summary, if you have one.

For example, your summary might read, “Marketing Associate with five years of experience in project management. Skilled in conducting thorough market research and competitor analysis to assess market trends and client needs, and to develop appropriate acquisition tactics.”

Mention Skills in Your Cover Letter

Include these critical thinking skills in your cover letter. In the body of your letter, mention one or two of these skills, and give specific examples of times when you have demonstrated them at work. Think about times when you had to analyze or evaluate materials to solve a problem.

Show the Interviewer Your Skills

You can use these skill words in an interview. Discuss a time when you were faced with a particular problem or challenge at work and explain how you applied critical thinking to solve it.

Some interviewers will give you a hypothetical scenario or problem, and ask you to use critical thinking skills to solve it. In this case, explain your thought process thoroughly to the interviewer. He or she is typically more focused on how you arrive at your solution rather than the solution itself. The interviewer wants to see you analyze and evaluate (key parts of critical thinking) the given scenario or problem.

Of course, each job will require different skills and experiences, so make sure you read the job description carefully and focus on the skills listed by the employer.

Top Critical Thinking Skills

Keep these in-demand skills in mind as you refine your critical thinking practice —whether for work or school.

Part of critical thinking is the ability to carefully examine something, whether it is a problem, a set of data, or a text. People with analytical skills can examine information, understand what it means, and properly explain to others the implications of that information.

• Asking Thoughtful Questions
• Data Analysis
• Interpretation
• Questioning Evidence
• Recognizing Patterns

Communication

Often, you will need to share your conclusions with your employers or with a group of classmates or colleagues. You need to be able to communicate with others to share your ideas effectively. You might also need to engage in critical thinking in a group. In this case, you will need to work with others and communicate effectively to figure out solutions to complex problems.

• Active Listening
• Collaboration
• Explanation
• Interpersonal
• Presentation
• Verbal Communication
• Written Communication

Critical thinking often involves creativity and innovation. You might need to spot patterns in the information you are looking at or come up with a solution that no one else has thought of before. All of this involves a creative eye that can take a different approach from all other approaches.

• Flexibility
• Conceptualization
• Imagination
• Drawing Connections
• Synthesizing

Open-Mindedness

To think critically, you need to be able to put aside any assumptions or judgments and merely analyze the information you receive. You need to be objective, evaluating ideas without bias.

• Objectivity
• Observation

Problem-Solving

Problem-solving is another critical thinking skill that involves analyzing a problem, generating and implementing a solution, and assessing the success of the plan. Employers don’t simply want employees who can think about information critically. They also need to be able to come up with practical solutions.

• Attention to Detail
• Clarification
• Decision Making
• Groundedness
• Identifying Patterns

More Critical Thinking Skills

• Inductive Reasoning
• Deductive Reasoning
• Noticing Outliers
• Adaptability
• Emotional Intelligence
• Brainstorming
• Optimization
• Restructuring
• Integration
• Strategic Planning
• Project Management
• Ongoing Improvement
• Causal Relationships
• Case Analysis
• Diagnostics
• SWOT Analysis
• Business Intelligence
• Quantitative Data Management
• Qualitative Data Management
• Risk Management
• Scientific Method
• Consumer Behavior

Key Takeaways

• Demonstrate you have critical thinking skills by adding relevant keywords to your resume.
• Mention pertinent critical thinking skills in your cover letter, too, and include an example of a time when you demonstrated them at work.
• Finally, highlight critical thinking skills during your interview. For instance, you might discuss a time when you were faced with a challenge at work and explain how you applied critical thinking skills to solve it.

University of Louisville. " What is Critical Thinking ."

American Management Association. " AMA Critical Skills Survey: Workers Need Higher Level Skills to Succeed in the 21st Century ."

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• What Is Critical Thinking? | Definition & Examples

What Is Critical Thinking? | Definition & Examples

Published on May 30, 2022 by Eoghan Ryan . Revised on May 31, 2023.

Critical thinking is the ability to effectively analyze information and form a judgment .

To think critically, you must be aware of your own biases and assumptions when encountering information, and apply consistent standards when evaluating sources .

Critical thinking skills help you to:

• Identify credible sources
• Evaluate and respond to arguments
• Assess alternative viewpoints
• Test hypotheses against relevant criteria

Table of contents

Why is critical thinking important, critical thinking examples, how to think critically, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about critical thinking.

Critical thinking is important for making judgments about sources of information and forming your own arguments. It emphasizes a rational, objective, and self-aware approach that can help you to identify credible sources and strengthen your conclusions.

Critical thinking is important in all disciplines and throughout all stages of the research process . The types of evidence used in the sciences and in the humanities may differ, but critical thinking skills are relevant to both.

In academic writing , critical thinking can help you to determine whether a source:

• Is free from research bias
• Provides evidence to support its research findings
• Considers alternative viewpoints

Outside of academia, critical thinking goes hand in hand with information literacy to help you form opinions rationally and engage independently and critically with popular media.

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Critical thinking can help you to identify reliable sources of information that you can cite in your research paper . It can also guide your own research methods and inform your own arguments.

Outside of academia, critical thinking can help you to be aware of both your own and others’ biases and assumptions.

Academic examples

However, when you compare the findings of the study with other current research, you determine that the results seem improbable. You analyze the paper again, consulting the sources it cites.

You notice that the research was funded by the pharmaceutical company that created the treatment. Because of this, you view its results skeptically and determine that more independent research is necessary to confirm or refute them. Example: Poor critical thinking in an academic context You’re researching a paper on the impact wireless technology has had on developing countries that previously did not have large-scale communications infrastructure. You read an article that seems to confirm your hypothesis: the impact is mainly positive. Rather than evaluating the research methodology, you accept the findings uncritically.

Nonacademic examples

However, you decide to compare this review article with consumer reviews on a different site. You find that these reviews are not as positive. Some customers have had problems installing the alarm, and some have noted that it activates for no apparent reason.

You revisit the original review article. You notice that the words “sponsored content” appear in small print under the article title. Based on this, you conclude that the review is advertising and is therefore not an unbiased source. Example: Poor critical thinking in a nonacademic context You support a candidate in an upcoming election. You visit an online news site affiliated with their political party and read an article that criticizes their opponent. The article claims that the opponent is inexperienced in politics. You accept this without evidence, because it fits your preconceptions about the opponent.

There is no single way to think critically. How you engage with information will depend on the type of source you’re using and the information you need.

However, you can engage with sources in a systematic and critical way by asking certain questions when you encounter information. Like the CRAAP test , these questions focus on the currency , relevance , authority , accuracy , and purpose of a source of information.

When encountering information, ask:

• Who is the author? Are they an expert in their field?
• What do they say? Is their argument clear? Can you summarize it?
• When did they say this? Is the source current?
• Where is the information published? Is it an academic article? Is it peer-reviewed ?
• Why did the author publish it? What is their motivation?
• How do they make their argument? Is it backed up by evidence? Does it rely on opinion, speculation, or appeals to emotion ? Do they address alternative arguments?

Critical thinking also involves being aware of your own biases, not only those of others. When you make an argument or draw your own conclusions, you can ask similar questions about your own writing:

• Am I only considering evidence that supports my preconceptions?
• Is my argument expressed clearly and backed up with credible sources?
• Would I be convinced by this argument coming from someone else?

If you want to know more about ChatGPT, AI tools , citation , and plagiarism , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

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Critical thinking refers to the ability to evaluate information and to be aware of biases or assumptions, including your own.

Like information literacy , it involves evaluating arguments, identifying and solving problems in an objective and systematic way, and clearly communicating your ideas.

Critical thinking skills include the ability to:

You can assess information and arguments critically by asking certain questions about the source. You can use the CRAAP test , focusing on the currency , relevance , authority , accuracy , and purpose of a source of information.

Ask questions such as:

• Who is the author? Are they an expert?
• How do they make their argument? Is it backed up by evidence?

A credible source should pass the CRAAP test  and follow these guidelines:

• The information should be up to date and current.
• The author and publication should be a trusted authority on the subject you are researching.
• The sources the author cited should be easy to find, clear, and unbiased.
• For a web source, the URL and layout should signify that it is trustworthy.

Information literacy refers to a broad range of skills, including the ability to find, evaluate, and use sources of information effectively.

Being information literate means that you:

• Know how to find credible sources
• Use relevant sources to inform your research
• Understand what constitutes plagiarism
• Know how to cite your sources correctly

Confirmation bias is the tendency to search, interpret, and recall information in a way that aligns with our pre-existing values, opinions, or beliefs. It refers to the ability to recollect information best when it amplifies what we already believe. Relatedly, we tend to forget information that contradicts our opinions.

Although selective recall is a component of confirmation bias, it should not be confused with recall bias.

On the other hand, recall bias refers to the differences in the ability between study participants to recall past events when self-reporting is used. This difference in accuracy or completeness of recollection is not related to beliefs or opinions. Rather, recall bias relates to other factors, such as the length of the recall period, age, and the characteristics of the disease under investigation.

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Meaning of critical thinking in English

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• adjudication
• interpretable
• interpretive
• interpretively
• reinterpret
• reinterpretation
• reinvestigate
• reinvestigation

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

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Translations of critical thinking.

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41+ Critical Thinking Examples (Definition + Practices)

Critical thinking is an essential skill in our information-overloaded world, where figuring out what is fact and fiction has become increasingly challenging.

But why is critical thinking essential? Put, critical thinking empowers us to make better decisions, challenge and validate our beliefs and assumptions, and understand and interact with the world more effectively and meaningfully.

Critical thinking is like using your brain's "superpowers" to make smart choices. Whether it's picking the right insurance, deciding what to do in a job, or discussing topics in school, thinking deeply helps a lot. In the next parts, we'll share real-life examples of when this superpower comes in handy and give you some fun exercises to practice it.

Critical Thinking Process Outline

Critical thinking means thinking clearly and fairly without letting personal feelings get in the way. It's like being a detective, trying to solve a mystery by using clues and thinking hard about them.

It isn't always easy to think critically, as it can take a pretty smart person to see some of the questions that aren't being answered in a certain situation. But, we can train our brains to think more like puzzle solvers, which can help develop our critical thinking skills.

Here's what it looks like step by step:

Spotting the Problem: It's like discovering a puzzle to solve. You see that there's something you need to figure out or decide.

Collecting Clues: Now, you need to gather information. Maybe you read about it, watch a video, talk to people, or do some research. It's like getting all the pieces to solve your puzzle.

Breaking It Down: This is where you look at all your clues and try to see how they fit together. You're asking questions like: Why did this happen? What could happen next?

Checking Your Clues: You want to make sure your information is good. This means seeing if what you found out is true and if you can trust where it came from.

Making a Guess: After looking at all your clues, you think about what they mean and come up with an answer. This answer is like your best guess based on what you know.

Explaining Your Thoughts: Now, you tell others how you solved the puzzle. You explain how you thought about it and how you answered. 

Checking Your Work: This is like looking back and seeing if you missed anything. Did you make any mistakes? Did you let any personal feelings get in the way? This step helps make sure your thinking is clear and fair.

And remember, you might sometimes need to go back and redo some steps if you discover something new. If you realize you missed an important clue, you might have to go back and collect more information.

Critical Thinking Methods

Just like doing push-ups or running helps our bodies get stronger, there are special exercises that help our brains think better. These brain workouts push us to think harder, look at things closely, and ask many questions.

It's not always about finding the "right" answer. Instead, it's about the journey of thinking and asking "why" or "how." Doing these exercises often helps us become better thinkers and makes us curious to know more about the world.

Now, let's look at some brain workouts to help us think better:

1. "What If" Scenarios

Imagine crazy things happening, like, "What if there was no internet for a month? What would we do?" These games help us think of new and different ideas.

Pick a hot topic. Argue one side of it and then try arguing the opposite. This makes us see different viewpoints and think deeply about a topic.

3. Analyze Visual Data

Check out charts or pictures with lots of numbers and info but no explanations. What story are they telling? This helps us get better at understanding information just by looking at it.

4. Mind Mapping

Write an idea in the center and then draw lines to related ideas. It's like making a map of your thoughts. This helps us see how everything is connected.

There's lots of mind-mapping software , but it's also nice to do this by hand.

5. Weekly Diary

Every week, write about what happened, the choices you made, and what you learned. Writing helps us think about our actions and how we can do better.

6. Evaluating Information Sources

Collect stories or articles about one topic from newspapers or blogs. Which ones are trustworthy? Which ones might be a little biased? This teaches us to be smart about where we get our info.

There are many resources to help you determine if information sources are factual or not.

7. Socratic Questioning

This way of thinking is called the Socrates Method, named after an old-time thinker from Greece. It's about asking lots of questions to understand a topic. You can do this by yourself or chat with a friend.

Start with a Big Question:

"What does 'success' mean?"

Dive Deeper with More Questions:

"Why do you think of success that way?" "Do TV shows, friends, or family make you think that?" "Does everyone think about success the same way?"

"Can someone be a winner even if they aren't rich or famous?" "Can someone feel like they didn't succeed, even if everyone else thinks they did?"

Look for Real-life Examples:

"Who is someone you think is successful? Why?" "Was there a time you felt like a winner? What happened?"

Think About Other People's Views:

"How might a person from another country think about success?" "Does the idea of success change as we grow up or as our life changes?"

Think About What It Means:

"How does your idea of success shape what you want in life?" "Are there problems with only wanting to be rich or famous?"

Look Back and Think:

"After talking about this, did your idea of success change? How?" "Did you learn something new about what success means?"

8. Six Thinking Hats 

Edward de Bono came up with a cool way to solve problems by thinking in six different ways, like wearing different colored hats. You can do this independently, but it might be more effective in a group so everyone can have a different hat color. Each color has its way of thinking:

White Hat (Facts): Just the facts! Ask, "What do we know? What do we need to find out?"

Red Hat (Feelings): Talk about feelings. Ask, "How do I feel about this?"

Black Hat (Careful Thinking): Be cautious. Ask, "What could go wrong?"

Yellow Hat (Positive Thinking): Look on the bright side. Ask, "What's good about this?"

Green Hat (Creative Thinking): Think of new ideas. Ask, "What's another way to look at this?"

Blue Hat (Planning): Organize the talk. Ask, "What should we do next?"

When using this method with a group:

• Explain all the hats.
• Decide which hat to wear first.
• Make sure everyone switches hats at the same time.
• Finish with the Blue Hat to plan the next steps.

9. SWOT Analysis

SWOT Analysis is like a game plan for businesses to know where they stand and where they should go. "SWOT" stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.

There are a lot of SWOT templates out there for how to do this visually, but you can also think it through. It doesn't just apply to businesses but can be a good way to decide if a project you're working on is working.

Strengths: What's working well? Ask, "What are we good at?"

Weaknesses: Where can we do better? Ask, "Where can we improve?"

Opportunities: What good things might come our way? Ask, "What chances can we grab?"

Threats: What challenges might we face? Ask, "What might make things tough for us?"

Steps to do a SWOT Analysis:

• Goal: Decide what you want to find out.
• Research: Learn about your business and the world around it.
• Brainstorm: Get a group and think together. Talk about strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
• Pick the Most Important Points: Some things might be more urgent or important than others.
• Make a Plan: Decide what to do based on your SWOT list.
• Check Again Later: Things change, so look at your SWOT again after a while to update it.

Now that you have a few tools for thinking critically, let’s get into some specific examples.

Everyday Examples

Life is a series of decisions. From the moment we wake up, we're faced with choices – some trivial, like choosing a breakfast cereal, and some more significant, like buying a home or confronting an ethical dilemma at work. While it might seem that these decisions are disparate, they all benefit from the application of critical thinking.

10. Deciding to buy something

Imagine you want a new phone. Don't just buy it because the ad looks cool. Think about what you need in a phone. Look up different phones and see what people say about them. Choose the one that's the best deal for what you want.

11. Deciding what is true

There's a lot of news everywhere. Don't believe everything right away. Think about why someone might be telling you this. Check if what you're reading or watching is true. Make up your mind after you've looked into it.

12. Deciding when you’re wrong

Sometimes, friends can have disagreements. Don't just get mad right away. Try to see where they're coming from. Talk about what's going on. Find a way to fix the problem that's fair for everyone.

13. Deciding what to eat

There's always a new diet or exercise that's popular. Don't just follow it because it's trendy. Find out if it's good for you. Ask someone who knows, like a doctor. Make choices that make you feel good and stay healthy.

14. Deciding what to do today

Everyone is busy with school, chores, and hobbies. Make a list of things you need to do. Decide which ones are most important. Plan your day so you can get things done and still have fun.

15. Making Tough Choices

Sometimes, it's hard to know what's right. Think about how each choice will affect you and others. Talk to people you trust about it. Choose what feels right in your heart and is fair to others.

16. Planning for the Future

Big decisions, like where to go to school, can be tricky. Think about what you want in the future. Look at the good and bad of each choice. Talk to people who know about it. Pick what feels best for your dreams and goals.

Job Examples

17. solving problems.

Workers brainstorm ways to fix a machine quickly without making things worse when a machine breaks at a factory.

18. Decision Making

A store manager decides which products to order more of based on what's selling best.

19. Setting Goals

A team leader helps their team decide what tasks are most important to finish this month and which can wait.

20. Evaluating Ideas

At a team meeting, everyone shares ideas for a new project. The group discusses each idea's pros and cons before picking one.

21. Handling Conflict

Two workers disagree on how to do a job. Instead of arguing, they talk calmly, listen to each other, and find a solution they both like.

22. Improving Processes

A cashier thinks of a faster way to ring up items so customers don't have to wait as long.

23. Asking Questions

Before starting a big task, an employee asks for clear instructions and checks if they have the necessary tools.

24. Checking Facts

Before presenting a report, someone double-checks all their information to make sure there are no mistakes.

25. Planning for the Future

A business owner thinks about what might happen in the next few years, like new competitors or changes in what customers want, and makes plans based on those thoughts.

26. Understanding Perspectives

A team is designing a new toy. They think about what kids and parents would both like instead of just what they think is fun.

School Examples

27. researching a topic.

For a history project, a student looks up different sources to understand an event from multiple viewpoints.

28. Debating an Issue

In a class discussion, students pick sides on a topic, like school uniforms, and share reasons to support their views.

29. Evaluating Sources

While writing an essay, a student checks if the information from a website is trustworthy or might be biased.

30. Problem Solving in Math

When stuck on a tricky math problem, a student tries different methods to find the answer instead of giving up.

31. Analyzing Literature

In English class, students discuss why a character in a book made certain choices and what those decisions reveal about them.

32. Testing a Hypothesis

For a science experiment, students guess what will happen and then conduct tests to see if they're right or wrong.

33. Giving Peer Feedback

After reading a classmate's essay, a student offers suggestions for improving it.

34. Questioning Assumptions

In a geography lesson, students consider why certain countries are called "developed" and what that label means.

35. Designing a Study

For a psychology project, students plan an experiment to understand how people's memories work and think of ways to ensure accurate results.

36. Interpreting Data

In a science class, students look at charts and graphs from a study, then discuss what the information tells them and if there are any patterns.

Critical Thinking Puzzles

Not all scenarios will have a single correct answer that can be figured out by thinking critically. Sometimes we have to think critically about ethical choices or moral behaviors. 

Here are some mind games and scenarios you can solve using critical thinking. You can see the solution(s) at the end of the post.

37. The Farmer, Fox, Chicken, and Grain Problem

A farmer is at a riverbank with a fox, a chicken, and a grain bag. He needs to get all three items across the river. However, his boat can only carry himself and one of the three items at a time. 

Here's the challenge:

• If the fox is left alone with the chicken, the fox will eat the chicken.
• If the chicken is left alone with the grain, the chicken will eat the grain.

How can the farmer get all three items across the river without any item being eaten? 

38. The Rope, Jar, and Pebbles Problem

You are in a room with two long ropes hanging from the ceiling. Each rope is just out of arm's reach from the other, so you can't hold onto one rope and reach the other simultaneously. 

Your task is to tie the two rope ends together, but you can't move the position where they hang from the ceiling.

You are given a jar full of pebbles. How do you complete the task?

39. The Two Guards Problem

Imagine there are two doors. One door leads to certain doom, and the other leads to freedom. You don't know which is which.

In front of each door stands a guard. One guard always tells the truth. The other guard always lies. You don't know which guard is which.

You can ask only one question to one of the guards. What question should you ask to find the door that leads to freedom?

40. The Hourglass Problem

You have two hourglasses. One measures 7 minutes when turned over, and the other measures 4 minutes. Using just these hourglasses, how can you time exactly 9 minutes?

41. The Lifeboat Dilemma

Imagine you're on a ship that's sinking. You get on a lifeboat, but it's already too full and might flip over. 

Nearby in the water, five people are struggling: a scientist close to finding a cure for a sickness, an old couple who've been together for a long time, a mom with three kids waiting at home, and a tired teenager who helped save others but is now in danger. 

You can only save one person without making the boat flip. Who would you choose?

42. The Tech Dilemma

You work at a tech company and help make a computer program to help small businesses. You're almost ready to share it with everyone, but you find out there might be a small chance it has a problem that could show users' private info. 

If you decide to fix it, you must wait two more months before sharing it. But your bosses want you to share it now. What would you do?

43. The History Mystery

Dr. Amelia is a history expert. She's studying where a group of people traveled long ago. She reads old letters and documents to learn about it. But she finds some letters that tell a different story than what most people believe. 

If she says this new story is true, it could change what people learn in school and what they think about history. What should she do?

The Role of Bias in Critical Thinking

Have you ever decided you don’t like someone before you even know them? Or maybe someone shared an idea with you that you immediately loved without even knowing all the details. 

This experience is called bias, which occurs when you like or dislike something or someone without a good reason or knowing why. It can also take shape in certain reactions to situations, like a habit or instinct. 

Bias comes from our own experiences, what friends or family tell us, or even things we are born believing. Sometimes, bias can help us stay safe, but other times it stops us from seeing the truth.

Not all bias is bad. Bias can be a mechanism for assessing our potential safety in a new situation. If we are biased to think that anything long, thin, and curled up is a snake, we might assume the rope is something to be afraid of before we know it is just a rope.

While bias might serve us in some situations (like jumping out of the way of an actual snake before we have time to process that we need to be jumping out of the way), it often harms our ability to think critically.

How Bias Gets in the Way of Good Thinking

Selective Perception: We only notice things that match our ideas and ignore the rest. 

It's like only picking red candies from a mixed bowl because you think they taste the best, but they taste the same as every other candy in the bowl. It could also be when we see all the signs that our partner is cheating on us but choose to ignore them because we are happy the way we are (or at least, we think we are).

Agreeing with Yourself: This is called “ confirmation bias ” when we only listen to ideas that match our own and seek, interpret, and remember information in a way that confirms what we already think we know or believe. 

An example is when someone wants to know if it is safe to vaccinate their children but already believes that vaccines are not safe, so they only look for information supporting the idea that vaccines are bad.

Thinking We Know It All: Similar to confirmation bias, this is called “overconfidence bias.” Sometimes we think our ideas are the best and don't listen to others. This can stop us from learning.

Have you ever met someone who you consider a “know it”? Probably, they have a lot of overconfidence bias because while they may know many things accurately, they can’t know everything. Still, if they act like they do, they show overconfidence bias.

There's a weird kind of bias similar to this called the Dunning Kruger Effect, and that is when someone is bad at what they do, but they believe and act like they are the best .

Following the Crowd: This is formally called “groupthink”. It's hard to speak up with a different idea if everyone agrees. But this can lead to mistakes.

An example of this we’ve all likely seen is the cool clique in primary school. There is usually one person that is the head of the group, the “coolest kid in school”, and everyone listens to them and does what they want, even if they don’t think it’s a good idea.

How to Overcome Biases

Here are a few ways to learn to think better, free from our biases (or at least aware of them!).

Know Your Biases: Realize that everyone has biases. If we know about them, we can think better.

Listen to Different People: Talking to different kinds of people can give us new ideas.

Ask Why: Always ask yourself why you believe something. Is it true, or is it just a bias?

Understand Others: Try to think about how others feel. It helps you see things in new ways.

Keep Learning: Always be curious and open to new information.

In today's world, everything changes fast, and there's so much information everywhere. This makes critical thinking super important. It helps us distinguish between what's real and what's made up. It also helps us make good choices. But thinking this way can be tough sometimes because of biases. These are like sneaky thoughts that can trick us. The good news is we can learn to see them and think better.

There are cool tools and ways we've talked about, like the "Socratic Questioning" method and the "Six Thinking Hats." These tools help us get better at thinking. These thinking skills can also help us in school, work, and everyday life.

We’ve also looked at specific scenarios where critical thinking would be helpful, such as deciding what diet to follow and checking facts.

Thinking isn't just a skill—it's a special talent we improve over time. Working on it lets us see things more clearly and understand the world better. So, keep practicing and asking questions! It'll make you a smarter thinker and help you see the world differently.

Critical Thinking Puzzles (Solutions)

The farmer, fox, chicken, and grain problem.

• The farmer first takes the chicken across the river and leaves it on the other side.
• He returns to the original side and takes the fox across the river.
• After leaving the fox on the other side, he returns the chicken to the starting side.
• He leaves the chicken on the starting side and takes the grain bag across the river.
• He leaves the grain with the fox on the other side and returns to get the chicken.
• The farmer takes the chicken across, and now all three items -- the fox, the chicken, and the grain -- are safely on the other side of the river.

The Rope, Jar, and Pebbles Problem

• Take one rope and tie the jar of pebbles to its end.
• Swing the rope with the jar in a pendulum motion.
• While the rope is swinging, grab the other rope and wait.
• As the swinging rope comes back within reach due to its pendulum motion, grab it.
• With both ropes within reach, untie the jar and tie the rope ends together.

The Two Guards Problem

The question is, "What would the other guard say is the door to doom?" Then choose the opposite door.

The Hourglass Problem

• Start both hourglasses. 
• When the 4-minute hourglass runs out, turn it over.
• When the 7-minute hourglass runs out, the 4-minute hourglass will have been running for 3 minutes. Turn the 7-minute hourglass over. 
• When the 4-minute hourglass runs out for the second time (a total of 8 minutes have passed), the 7-minute hourglass will run for 1 minute. Turn the 7-minute hourglass again for 1 minute to empty the hourglass (a total of 9 minutes passed).

The Boat and Weights Problem

Take the cat over first and leave it on the other side. Then, return and take the fish across next. When you get there, take the cat back with you. Leave the cat on the starting side and take the cat food across. Lastly, return to get the cat and bring it to the other side.

The Lifeboat Dilemma

There isn’t one correct answer to this problem. Here are some elements to consider:

• Moral Principles: What values guide your decision? Is it the potential greater good for humanity (the scientist)? What is the value of long-standing love and commitment (the elderly couple)? What is the future of young children who depend on their mothers? Or the selfless bravery of the teenager?
• Future Implications: Consider the future consequences of each choice. Saving the scientist might benefit millions in the future, but what moral message does it send about the value of individual lives?
• Emotional vs. Logical Thinking: While it's essential to engage empathy, it's also crucial not to let emotions cloud judgment entirely. For instance, while the teenager's bravery is commendable, does it make him more deserving of a spot on the boat than the others?
• Acknowledging Uncertainty: The scientist claims to be close to a significant breakthrough, but there's no certainty. How does this uncertainty factor into your decision?
• Personal Bias: Recognize and challenge any personal biases, such as biases towards age, profession, or familial status.

The Tech Dilemma

Again, there isn’t one correct answer to this problem. Here are some elements to consider:

• Evaluate the Risk: How severe is the potential vulnerability? Can it be easily exploited, or would it require significant expertise? Even if the circumstances are rare, what would be the consequences if the vulnerability were exploited?
• Stakeholder Considerations: Different stakeholders will have different priorities. Upper management might prioritize financial projections, the marketing team might be concerned about the product's reputation, and customers might prioritize the security of their data. How do you balance these competing interests?
• Short-Term vs. Long-Term Implications: While launching on time could meet immediate financial goals, consider the potential long-term damage to the company's reputation if the vulnerability is exploited. Would the short-term gains be worth the potential long-term costs?
• Ethical Implications : Beyond the financial and reputational aspects, there's an ethical dimension to consider. Is it right to release a product with a known vulnerability, even if the chances of it being exploited are low?
• Seek External Input: Consulting with cybersecurity experts outside your company might be beneficial. They could provide a more objective risk assessment and potential mitigation strategies.
• Communication: How will you communicate the decision, whatever it may be, both internally to your team and upper management and externally to your customers and potential users?

The History Mystery

Dr. Amelia should take the following steps:

• Verify the Letters: Before making any claims, she should check if the letters are actual and not fake. She can do this by seeing when and where they were written and if they match with other things from that time.
• Get a Second Opinion: It's always good to have someone else look at what you've found. Dr. Amelia could show the letters to other history experts and see their thoughts.
• Research More: Maybe there are more documents or letters out there that support this new story. Dr. Amelia should keep looking to see if she can find more evidence.
• Share the Findings: If Dr. Amelia believes the letters are true after all her checks, she should tell others. This can be through books, talks, or articles.
• Stay Open to Feedback: Some people might agree with Dr. Amelia, and others might not. She should listen to everyone and be ready to learn more or change her mind if new information arises.

Ultimately, Dr. Amelia's job is to find out the truth about history and share it. It's okay if this new truth differs from what people used to believe. History is about learning from the past, no matter the story.

Related posts:

• Experimenter Bias (Definition + Examples)
• Hasty Generalization Fallacy (31 Examples + Similar Names)
• Ad Hoc Fallacy (29 Examples + Other Names)
• Confirmation Bias (Examples + Definition)
• Equivocation Fallacy (26 Examples + Description)

Reference this article:

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Critical thinking definition

Critical thinking, as described by Oxford Languages, is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgement.

Active and skillful approach, evaluation, assessment, synthesis, and/or evaluation of information obtained from, or made by, observation, knowledge, reflection, acumen or conversation, as a guide to belief and action, requires the critical thinking process, which is why it's often used in education and academics.

Some even may view it as a backbone of modern thought.

However, it's a skill, and skills must be trained and encouraged to be used at its full potential.

People turn up to various approaches in improving their critical thinking, like:

• Developing technical and problem-solving skills
• Engaging in more active listening
• Actively questioning their assumptions and beliefs
• Seeking out more diversity of thought
• Opening up their curiosity in an intellectual way etc.

Is critical thinking useful in writing?

Critical thinking can help in planning your paper and making it more concise, but it's not obvious at first. We carefully pinpointed some the questions you should ask yourself when boosting critical thinking in writing:

• What information should be included?
• Which information resources should the author look to?
• What degree of technical knowledge should the report assume its audience has?
• What is the most effective way to show information?
• How should the report be organized?
• How should it be designed?
• What tone and level of language difficulty should the document have?

Usage of critical thinking comes down not only to the outline of your paper, it also begs the question: How can we use critical thinking solving problems in our writing's topic?

Let's say, you have a Powerpoint on how critical thinking can reduce poverty in the United States. You'll primarily have to define critical thinking for the viewers, as well as use a lot of critical thinking questions and synonyms to get them to be familiar with your methods and start the thinking process behind it.

Are there any services that can help me use more critical thinking?

We understand that it's difficult to learn how to use critical thinking more effectively in just one article, but our service is here to help.

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critical thinking

[ krit -i-k uh l thing -king ]

The questions are intended to develop your critical thinking.

Word History and Origins

Origin of critical thinking 1

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A Brief History of the Idea of Critical Thinking

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Thesaurus for Critical thinking

Related terms for critical thinking - synonyms, antonyms and sentences with critical thinking, similar meaning.

• critical reflection
• critical reasoning
• critical approach
• objective analysis
• critical thought
• critical analysis
• critical scrutiny
• critical view
• critical review
• decisive thinking
• critical examination
• critical study
• critical appraisal
• critical assessment
• dangerous thinking
• critical evaluation
• critical perspective
• serious thinking
• critical attitude
• critical faculty
• evaluation of an issue
• investigation
• examination

Opposite meaning

• mindless thinking
• learning parrot-fashion
• learning off by heart
• barnum effect
• barnum effects
• ad verecundiam
• brainwashings
• bandwagon fallacies
• indoctrinating in
• appeals to emotion
• argumenta ad populum
• appeals to authority
• forer effect
• forer effects
• cognitive aptitude
• logical aptitude
• motor aptitude
• non-verbal aptitude
• numerical aptitude
• bad approach
• illogical approach
• illogical method
• illogical way

Common usage

• graphic organizer
• abstract thinking
• autistic thinking
• convergent thinking
• creative thinking
• dereistic thinking
• divergent thinking
• free thinking
• good thinking
• lateral thinking
• logical thinking
• magical thinking
• nice thinking
• out-of-the-box thinking
• positive thinking
• put on thinking cap
• putting on thinking cap
• right thinking
• synthetic thinking
• thinking about
• thinking aloud
• thinking back
• thinking ill
• thinking on
• thinking out

Sentence Examples

Proper usage in context.

• Developing the critical thinking of pupils
• In their world, critical thinking was not allowed
• In those times, a critical thinking can delay necessary action
• Maybe your critical thinking got clouded
• MIDA encourages dialogue, critical thinking and self-regulation

Critical Thinking

Learn words with flashcards and other activities, other learning activities, teaching tools, full list of words from this list:.

• datum an item of factual information from measurement or research data , current knowledge, in solving problems learn new skills and/or data , knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being
• logical fallacy an error in reasoning that undermines an argument Logical fallacies , informal or formal, is when one uses incorrect argumentation, fallacies, in one's reasoning resulting in flawed logic.
• logical thinking thinking that is coherent and logical Without emotions correct logical thinking would not be possible and what we call thinking is actually the imagination; the imagination is what we use to perceive reality.
• flawed having a blemish or flaw Logical fallacies, informal or formal, is when one uses incorrect argumentation, fallacies, in one's reasoning resulting in flawed logic.
• flaw an imperfection in an object or machine Logical fallacies, informal or formal, is when one uses incorrect argumentation, fallacies, in one's reasoning resulting in flawed logic.
• seek out look for a specific person or thing problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being presented before them seek out answers
• skill an ability that has been acquired by training It is basically learning skills used to improve one's thinking.
• third party someone other than the principals involved in a transaction Third party presentation touching on basic understandings of critical thinking.
• argumentation the methodical process of logical reasoning Logical fallacies, informal or formal, is when one uses incorrect argumentation , fallacies, in one's reasoning resulting in flawed logic.
• solve find the answer to or understand the meaning of solve problems utilize one's learned skills and/or data, current knowledge, in solving problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem
• data a collection of facts from which conclusions may be drawn data , current knowledge, in solving problems learn new skills and/or data , knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being
• fallacy a misconception resulting from incorrect reasoning Logical fallacies , informal or formal, is when one uses incorrect argumentation, fallacies , in one's reasoning resulting in flawed logic.
• improve to make better It is basically learning skills used to improve one's thinking.
• improving getting higher or more vigorous What does one improving one's learning skills do?
• critical of a serious examination and judgment of something What is critical thinking?
• touch on refer to or discuss briefly Third party presentation touching on basic understandings of critical thinking.
• tab a short strip of material attached to or projecting from something in order to facilitate opening or identifying or handling it In the Presentation tab above on this page is a wonderful video introduction to critical thinking by a third party source that should hopefully inspire one to continue seeking, learning and practicing critical thinking.
• learn gain knowledge or skills It is basically learning skills used to improve one's thinking.
• learning the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge It is basically learning skills used to improve one's thinking.
• utilize put into service utilize one's learned skills and/or data, current knowledge, in solving problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize
• info a message received and understood One should seek out info on critical thinking from many sources to help one with learning and understanding how to improve one's own learning skills.
• specific stated explicitly or in detail problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being presented before them seek out answers
• solving finding a solution to a problem solving problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being presented before them seek out
• incorrect not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth Logical fallacies, informal or formal, is when one uses incorrect argumentation, fallacies, in one's reasoning resulting in flawed logic.
• correct free from error; especially conforming to fact or truth Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning.
• recognize perceive to be something or something you can identify problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being presented before them seek out answers
• thinking endowed with the capacity to reason What is critical thinking ?
• problem a question raised for consideration or solution problems utilize one's learned skills and/or data, current knowledge, in solving problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem
• logical based on known statements or events or conditions Logical fallacies, informal or formal, is when one uses incorrect argumentation, fallacies, in one's reasoning resulting in flawed logic.
• informal not in accord with established conventions and requirements Logical fallacies, informal or formal, is when one uses incorrect argumentation, fallacies, in one's reasoning resulting in flawed logic.
• basically in essence; at bottom or by one's (or its) very nature It is basically learning skills used to improve one's thinking.
• seek try to locate, discover, or establish the existence of problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being presented before them seek out answers
• balance harmonious arrangement or relation of parts within a whole This has been a simple introduction to critical thinking and I hope this has been helpful in moving those who seek balance closer toward balance .
• logic the branch of philosophy that analyzes inference Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning.
• presentation the act of formally giving something, as a prize Third party presentation touching on basic understandings of critical thinking.
• reasoning thinking that is organized and logical Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning .
• valid well grounded in logic or truth or having legal force Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning.
• inference a conclusion you can draw based on known evidence Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning.
• hopefully it is hoped In the Presentation tab above on this page is a wonderful video introduction to critical thinking by a third party source that should hopefully inspire one to continue seeking, learning and practicing critical thinking.
• systematic characterized by order and planning Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning.
• helpful providing assistance or serving a useful function This has been a simple introduction to critical thinking and I hope this has been helpful in moving those who seek balance closer toward balance.
• formal in accord with established conventions and requirements Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning.
• inspire serve as the inciting cause of In the Presentation tab above on this page is a wonderful video introduction to critical thinking by a third party source that should hopefully inspire one to continue seeking, learning and practicing critical thinking.
• understanding the condition of someone who knows and comprehends Third party presentation touching on basic understandings of critical thinking.
• introduction the act of beginning something new In the Presentation tab above on this page is a wonderful video introduction to critical thinking by a third party source that should hopefully inspire one to continue seeking, learning and practicing critical thinking.
• basic reduced to the simplest and most significant form possible Third party presentation touching on basic understandings of critical thinking.
• current occurring in or belonging to the present time current knowledge, in solving problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being presented
• overall involving only main features used correct and/or flawed learning skills to learn the specific skills and/or data does not speak of whether one had the correct learning skills to recognize if the skills and/or data taught/learned were correct and/or flawed does not speak of whether one has the learning skills to be able to solve problems outside of one's current set of skills and/or data one has learned Hence, whether one has acquired a mass amount of specific skills and/or data or not one will greatly benefit overall
• learned having or showing profound knowledge learned skills and/or data, current knowledge, in solving problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills
• acquire come into the possession of something concrete or abstract - does not speak of whether one used correct and/or flawed learning skills to learn the specific skills and/or data does not speak of whether one had the correct learning skills to recognize if the skills and/or data taught/learned were correct and/or flawed does not speak of whether one has the learning skills to be able to solve problems outside of one's current set of skills and/or data one has learned Hence, whether one has acquired a mass amount of specific skills and/or data or not
• ability the quality of having the means or skills to do something ability to - solve problems utilize one's learned skills and/or data, current knowledge, in solving problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to
• imagination the ability to form mental pictures of things or events Without emotions correct logical thinking would not be possible and what we call thinking is actually the imagination ; the imagination is what we use to perceive reality.
• source the place where something begins One should seek out info on critical thinking from many sources to help one with learning and understanding how to improve one's own learning skills.
• one smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number Logical fallacies, informal or formal, is when one uses incorrect argumentation, fallacies, in one 's reasoning resulting in flawed logic.
• think judge or regard; look upon; judge What is critical thinking ?
• prior earlier in time problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being presented before them seek out answers
• multitude a large indefinite number problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being presented before them seek out answers
• perceive become aware of through the senses Without emotions correct logical thinking would not be possible and what we call thinking is actually the imagination; the imagination is what we use to perceive reality.
• closing the act of closing something In closing ...
• practice a customary way of operation or behavior In the Presentation tab above on this page is a wonderful video introduction to critical thinking by a third party source that should hopefully inspire one to continue seeking, learning and practicing critical thinking.
• touching arousing affect Third party presentation touching on basic understandings of critical thinking.
• in general without distinction of one from others skills and/or data does not speak of whether one had the correct learning skills to recognize if the skills and/or data taught/learned were correct and/or flawed does not speak of whether one has the learning skills to be able to solve problems outside of one's current set of skills and/or data one has learned Hence, whether one has acquired a mass amount of specific skills and/or data or not one will greatly benefit overall from improving one's critical thinking ability in general
• video broadcasting visual images of stationary or moving objects In the Presentation tab above on this page is a wonderful video introduction to critical thinking by a third party source that should hopefully inspire one to continue seeking, learning and practicing critical thinking.
• closer (comparative of `near' or `close') within a shorter distance This has been a simple introduction to critical thinking and I hope this has been helpful in moving those who seek balance closer toward balance.
• acquired gotten through environmental forces - does not speak of whether one used correct and/or flawed learning skills to learn the specific skills and/or data does not speak of whether one had the correct learning skills to recognize if the skills and/or data taught/learned were correct and/or flawed does not speak of whether one has the learning skills to be able to solve problems outside of one's current set of skills and/or data one has learned Hence, whether one has acquired a mass amount of specific skills and/or data or not
• understand know and comprehend the nature or meaning of Third party presentation touching on basic understandings of critical thinking.
• emotion any strong feeling Without emotions correct logical thinking would not be possible and what we call thinking is actually the imagination; the imagination is what we use to perceive reality.
• teach impart skills or knowledge to - does not speak of whether one used correct and/or flawed learning skills to learn the specific skills and/or data does not speak of whether one had the correct learning skills to recognize if the skills and/or data taught /learned were correct and/or flawed does not speak of whether one has the learning skills to be able to solve problems outside of one's current set of skills and/or data one has learned Hence, whether one has acquired a mass amount of specific skills and/or data or not
• page one side of one leaf of a book or other document In the Presentation tab above on this page is a wonderful video introduction to critical thinking by a third party source that should hopefully inspire one to continue seeking, learning and practicing critical thinking.
• seeking the act of searching for something In the Presentation tab above on this page is a wonderful video introduction to critical thinking by a third party source that should hopefully inspire one to continue seeking , learning and practicing critical thinking.
• additional further or extra Additional understanding...
• speak use language - does not speak of whether one used correct and/or flawed learning skills to learn the specific skills and/or data does not speak of whether one had the correct learning skills to recognize if the skills and/or data taught/learned were correct and/or flawed does not speak of whether one has the learning skills to be able to solve problems outside of one's current set of skills and/or data one has learned Hence, whether one has acquired a mass amount of specific skills and/or data or not
• benefit something that aids or promotes well-being one used correct and/or flawed learning skills to learn the specific skills and/or data does not speak of whether one had the correct learning skills to recognize if the skills and/or data taught/learned were correct and/or flawed does not speak of whether one has the learning skills to be able to solve problems outside of one's current set of skills and/or data one has learned Hence, whether one has acquired a mass amount of specific skills and/or data or not one will greatly benefit
• use put into service Logical fallacies, informal or formal, is when one uses incorrect argumentation, fallacies, in one's reasoning resulting in flawed logic.
• reality the state of being actual Without emotions correct logical thinking would not be possible and what we call thinking is actually the imagination; the imagination is what we use to perceive reality .
• mass the property of a body that causes it to have weight - does not speak of whether one used correct and/or flawed learning skills to learn the specific skills and/or data does not speak of whether one had the correct learning skills to recognize if the skills and/or data taught/learned were correct and/or flawed does not speak of whether one has the learning skills to be able to solve problems outside of one's current set of skills and/or data one has learned Hence, whether one has acquired a mass amount of specific skills and/or data or not
• knowledge the result of perception, learning, and reasoning knowledge , in solving problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge , and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being presented before them
• third one of three equal parts of a divisible whole Third party presentation touching on basic understandings of critical thinking.
• help give assistance; be of service helps with one's ability to - solve problems utilize one's learned skills and/or data, current knowledge, in solving problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills
• hence from that fact or reason or as a result - does not speak of whether one used correct and/or flawed learning skills to learn the specific skills and/or data does not speak of whether one had the correct learning skills to recognize if the skills and/or data taught/learned were correct and/or flawed does not speak of whether one has the learning skills to be able to solve problems outside of one's current set of skills and/or data one has learned Hence , whether one has acquired a mass amount of specific skills and/or data or not
• area the extent of a two-dimensional surface within a boundary problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being presented before them seek out answers
• principle a basic generalization that is accepted as true Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning.
• needs in such a manner as could not be otherwise problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being presented before them seek out answers
• moving in motion This has been a simple introduction to critical thinking and I hope this has been helpful in moving those who seek balance closer toward balance.
• continue keep or maintain in unaltered condition In the Presentation tab above on this page is a wonderful video introduction to critical thinking by a third party source that should hopefully inspire one to continue seeking, learning and practicing critical thinking.
• set put into a certain place or abstract location problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being presented before them seek out answers
• greatly to an extraordinary extent or degree of whether one used correct and/or flawed learning skills to learn the specific skills and/or data does not speak of whether one had the correct learning skills to recognize if the skills and/or data taught/learned were correct and/or flawed does not speak of whether one has the learning skills to be able to solve problems outside of one's current set of skills and/or data one has learned Hence, whether one has acquired a mass amount of specific skills and/or data or not one will greatly
• amount how much there is of something that you can quantify - does not speak of whether one used correct and/or flawed learning skills to learn the specific skills and/or data does not speak of whether one had the correct learning skills to recognize if the skills and/or data taught/learned were correct and/or flawed does not speak of whether one has the learning skills to be able to solve problems outside of one's current set of skills and/or data one has learned Hence, whether one has acquired a mass amount of specific skills and/or data or not
• wonderful extraordinarily good or great In the Presentation tab above on this page is a wonderful video introduction to critical thinking by a third party source that should hopefully inspire one to continue seeking, learning and practicing critical thinking.
• actually in fact Without emotions correct logical thinking would not be possible and what we call thinking is actually the imagination; the imagination is what we use to perceive reality.
• reason a logical motive for a belief or action Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning .
• touch make physical contact with, come in contact with Third party presentation touching on basic understandings of critical thinking.
• close at or within a short distance in space or time In closing ...
• party an occasion on which people gather to socialize and have fun Third party presentation touching on basic understandings of critical thinking.
• proper marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being presented before them seek out answers
• above in or to a place that is higher set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being presented before them seek out answers to one's problems Simply put - improving one's learning skills does all the above
• simply in a simple manner; without extravagance or embellishment and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being presented before them seek out answers to one's problems Simply
• simple having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved This has been a simple introduction to critical thinking and I hope this has been helpful in moving those who seek balance closer toward balance.
• move change location This has been a simple introduction to critical thinking and I hope this has been helpful in moving those who seek balance closer toward balance.
• used previously owned by another It is basically learning skills used to improve one's thinking.
• study applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning.
• used to in the habit It is basically learning skills used to improve one's thinking.
• outside the region that is outside of something - does not speak of whether one used correct and/or flawed learning skills to learn the specific skills and/or data does not speak of whether one had the correct learning skills to recognize if the skills and/or data taught/learned were correct and/or flawed does not speak of whether one has the learning skills to be able to solve problems outside of one's current set of skills and/or data one has learned Hence, whether one has acquired a mass amount of specific skills and/or data or not
• result something that follows as a consequence Logical fallacies, informal or formal, is when one uses incorrect argumentation, fallacies, in one's reasoning resulting in flawed logic.
• note a brief written record note that one's learned specific set of skills and/or data - does not speak of whether one used correct and/or flawed learning skills to learn the specific skills and/or data does not speak of whether one had the correct learning skills to recognize if the skills and/or data taught/learned were correct and/or flawed does not speak of whether one has the learning skills to be able to solve problems outside of one's current set of skills and/or data one has learned Hence, whether one has
• answer a statement made to reply to a question or criticism problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being presented before them seek out answers
• in that (formal) in or into that thing or place problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being presented before them seek out answers
• hope the general feeling that some desire will be fulfilled This has been a simple introduction to critical thinking and I hope this has been helpful in moving those who seek balance closer toward balance.
• have possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being presented before them seek out answers
• new not of long duration problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being presented before them seek out answers
• call utter a sudden loud cry Without emotions correct logical thinking would not be possible and what we call thinking is actually the imagination; the imagination is what we use to perceive reality.
• able having the necessary means or skill to do something - does not speak of whether one used correct and/or flawed learning skills to learn the specific skills and/or data does not speak of whether one had the correct learning skills to recognize if the skills and/or data taught/learned were correct and/or flawed does not speak of whether one has the learning skills to be able to solve problems outside of one's current set of skills and/or data one has learned Hence, whether one has acquired a mass amount of specific skills and/or data or not
• possible capable of happening or existing Without emotions correct logical thinking would not be possible and what we call thinking is actually the imagination; the imagination is what we use to perceive reality.
• need require or want problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being presented before them seek out answers
• present happening or existing now problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being presented before them seek out answers
• general applying to all or most members of a category or group skills and/or data does not speak of whether one had the correct learning skills to recognize if the skills and/or data taught/learned were correct and/or flawed does not speak of whether one has the learning skills to be able to solve problems outside of one's current set of skills and/or data one has learned Hence, whether one has acquired a mass amount of specific skills and/or data or not one will greatly benefit overall from improving one's critical thinking ability in general
• out moving or appearing to move away from a place, especially one that is enclosed or hidden problems learn new skills and/or data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being presented before them seek out answers
• not negation of a word or group of words - does not speak of whether one used correct and/or flawed learning skills to learn the specific skills and/or data does not speak of whether one had the correct learning skills to recognize if the skills and/or data taught/learned were correct and/or flawed does not speak of whether one has the learning skills to be able to solve problems outside of one's current set of skills and/or data one has learned Hence, whether one has acquired a mass amount of specific skills and/or data or not
• put cause to be in a certain state data, knowledge, and/or improve upon one's current set of skills and/or data help solve a multitude of problems in one's life without having prior experiance and/or skills and/or data in that specific area recognize when one doesn't have the proper skills and/or data to solve specific problems recognize when one needs to go and seek out new skills and/or data to solve a problem recognize flawed skills and/or data being presented before them seek out answers to one's problems Simply put
• also in addition also note that one's learned specific set of skills and/or data - does not speak of whether one used correct and/or flawed learning skills to learn the specific skills and/or data does not speak of whether one had the correct learning skills to recognize if the skills and/or data taught/learned were correct and/or flawed does not speak of whether one has the learning skills to be able to solve problems outside of one's current set of skills and/or data one has learned Hence, whether one

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Top 10 Positive & Impactful Synonyms for “Critical” (With Meanings & Examples)

By Alexis Ingram

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Insightful, pivotal, and pragmatic—positive and impactful synonyms for “critical” enhance your vocabulary and help you foster a mindset geared toward making a positive impact. So, we had to ask: What are the top ten positive & impactful synonyms for “critical”?

The top 10 positive & impactful synonyms for “critical” are insightful, constructive, analytical, discerning, evaluative, objective, pivotal, pragmatic, strategic, and thorough. Using these synonyms helps you enhance both your communication and psychological resilience in several meaningful ways.

In the table below, you can see all these top ten synonyms including their descriptions, why they are positive and impactful synonyms for “critical,” and example sentences that highlight how you can use each of these. We’ll then also share ten benefits of why you should use these synonyms, ten interesting facts about the word “critical,” and a brief history of the development of our alphabet.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | ‍ O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Here Are the Top 10 Positive & Impactful Synonyms for “Critical”

Our list of positive & impactful synonyms for “critical” help you expand your vocabulary and enhance both your communication and psychological resilience in several meaningful ways ( you can read more about it in the next section ).

That’s why it’s so important to focus on synonyms that can be used in a positive and impactful way.

Critical : expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgments Oxford Dictionary

Our top ten synonyms for “critical” exemplify the beauty of our language—their meaning is not just fixed but can be shaped by the context they are used in. 

10 Benefits of Using More Positive & Impactful Synonyms

Our positive & impactful synonyms for “critical” help you expand your vocabulary and enhance both your communication and psychological resilience in several meaningful ways:

• Encouraging Positive Framing : Using positive synonyms allows for a more optimistic and affirmative way of expressing thoughts. This can influence not only the speaker’s or writer’s mindset but also positively impact the audience’s perception and reaction.
• Improving Emotional Intelligence : Learning different positive synonyms helps in accurately expressing emotions. This aids in emotional intelligence, as one can more precisely convey feelings and understand the emotions of others.
• Enhancing Persuasive Communication : In persuasive writing and speaking, using positive synonyms can be more effective in convincing an audience, as people generally respond better to positive language.
• Broadening Emotional Vocabulary : A range of positive synonyms enriches your emotional vocabulary. It’s one thing to say you’re “happy” and another to express that you’re “elated,” “joyful,” or “content.” Each word carries a unique emotional hue.
• Creating a Positive Atmosphere : The use of positive language can create a more constructive and encouraging atmosphere in both personal and professional settings. This can lead to better teamwork, more effective communication, and improved interpersonal relationships.
• Enhancing Creative Writing : For those engaged in creative writing, a repertoire of positive synonyms can help in vividly depicting scenes, characters, and emotions, making the narrative more engaging and lively.
• Improving Mental Health and Well-being : Regularly using and thinking in terms of positive words can influence one’s mental state and outlook on life. Positive language has been linked to greater well-being and a more optimistic outlook.
• Improving Cognitive Flexibility : Expanding your vocabulary with positive synonyms enhances your cognitive flexibility. This means you become more adept at thinking creatively and adapting your language use to different situations. The mental exercise involved in learning and using a variety of positive words can also contribute to overall cognitive health, keeping your mind sharp and responsive.
• Building Social Skills and Empathy : When you have a variety of positive words at your disposal, you’re better equipped to offer compliments, encouragement, and empathetic responses in social interactions.
• Facilitating Conflict Resolution : In situations of conflict, the use of positive language can help de-escalate tension. Having a range of positive synonyms allows for more constructive and diplomatic communication.

Overall, your use of positive synonyms not only broadens your vocabulary but also positively influences your thought processes, emotional expression, and interpersonal interactions.

10 Interesting Facts About the Word “Critical”

Let’s take a step back and have a look at some interesting facts about the word “critical” .

• Etymology : The word “critical” comes from the Greek “kritikos,” meaning “able to discern,” which itself derives from “krinein,” meaning “to separate, decide, judge.” This origin reflects the word’s association with judgment and evaluation.
• Historical Development : Initially, “critical” was used primarily in the context of literary and artistic criticism, denoting the analysis and judgment of the merits and faults of artistic works.
• Expansion of Use : Over time, the use of “critical” expanded beyond the arts to include any analysis or assessment that involves careful judgment and evaluation, including scientific, philosophical, and everyday contexts.
• Critical Thinking : The term “critical thinking” emerged in the 20 th century, emphasizing the importance of analytical skills, reasoning, and evaluation in education and intellectual discourse.
• Medical Usage : In medicine, “critical” is used to describe a condition that is of utmost importance or severity, often involving life-threatening situations, indicating the word’s versatility in conveying urgency.
• Engineering and Technology : In engineering and technological fields, “critical” often describes essential components or factors that are vital for system functionality, highlighting its application in assessing reliability and risk.
• Critical Mass : The concept of “critical mass,” originating in physics, has been adopted in various fields to describe the minimum amount of something needed to start or maintain a venture, demonstrating the word’s metaphorical extension.
• Philosophical Context : The word “critical” plays a significant role in philosophy, particularly in critical theory and critical philosophy, which aim to scrutinize and challenge societal structures and norms.
• Critical Periods : The idea of “critical periods” in developmental psychology and linguistics refers to specific times during which an organism is particularly receptive to certain types of learning, underscoring the word’s relevance in growth and development.
• Environmental Science : “Critical” is also used in environmental science to describe ecosystems or resources that are at a tipping point, emphasizing the importance of sustainable management and conservation efforts.

A Brief History of Our Alphabet

The story of our alphabet has a rich and compelling history , beginning with ancient civilizations and carrying forward into the present day.

The history of our modern alphabet is a fascinating journey that spans several millennia and cultures. It’s commonly referred to as the Latin or Roman alphabet, and here’s a brief overview of its evolution:

• Phoenician Alphabet (circa 1050 BCE) : The story begins with the Phoenician alphabet, one of the oldest writing systems known to use a one-to-one correspondence between sounds and symbols. This Semitic alphabet had about 22 consonants, but no vowels, and was primarily used for trade.
• Greek Alphabet (circa 800 BCE) : The Greeks borrowed and adapted the Phoenician script. Crucially, they introduced vowels, making it one of the first true alphabets where each symbol represented a distinct sound (both vowel and consonant). The Greek alphabet had a significant influence on the development of other alphabets.
• Etruscan Alphabet (circa 700 BCE) : The Etruscan civilization in Italy adapted the Greek alphabet to their own language. While Etruscan was largely replaced by Latin, their version of the alphabet was a key predecessor to the Roman one.
• Latin Alphabet (circa 700 BCE – Present) : The Latin alphabet emerged from the adaptation of the Etruscan script. Ancient Rome used this alphabet, and it spread across Europe as the Roman Empire expanded. The original Latin alphabet did not contain the letters J, U, and W. These were added much later along with other modifications to suit different languages and phonetic needs.
• Modern Variations : Today, the Latin alphabet is the most widely used alphabetic writing system in the world. It has undergone various changes to accommodate different languages and sounds. For instance, English—among other languages—added letters like ‘J’, ‘U’, and ‘W’, while other languages incorporate additional characters like ‘Ñ’ in Spanish or ‘Ç’ in French.

This evolution reflects not just linguistic changes but also cultural and historical shifts, as the alphabet was adapted by different societies across centuries.

Final Thoughts

Expanding your vocabulary is akin to broadening your intellectual horizons and enhancing your capacity to express your thoughts and emotions with precision. By embracing additional synonyms for “critical,” you’re not just learning new terms, but you’re also gaining nuanced ways to communicate positivity and impact.

The more words you have at your disposal, the more accurately and vividly you can paint your thoughts into speech and writing. So, by growing your vocabulary, especially with positive and impactful words, you’re empowering yourself to engage more effectively and inspiringly with the world around you.

• Society for Personality and Social Psychology: Why a Simple Act of Kindness Is Not as Simple as It Seems: Underestimating the Positive Impact of Our Compliments on Others
• Journal of Personality: Psychological Resilience and Positive Emotional Granularity: Examining the Benefits of Positive Emotions on Coping and Health
• David Sacks: Letter Perfect: The Marvelous History of Our Alphabet From A to Z
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With A
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With B
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With C
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With D
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With E
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With F
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With G
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With H
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With I
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With J
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With K
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With L
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With M
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With N
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With O
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With P
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With Q
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With R
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With S
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With T
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With U
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With V
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With W
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With X
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With Y
• Impactful Ninja: Positive & Impactful Words Starting With Z

Alexis Ingram

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Deion Sanders suggests “ramification” regarding report critical of Colorado program

• Mike Florio

As Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders prepares for his second season as head coach at Colorado, a sharply critical report regarding his program has emerged.

Last Friday, Steve Corder of AthlonSports.com published an item under this title: “ Deion Sanders chaotic culture turns into locker room violence in Colorado .”

The article includes quotes from players who have left the university.

“It’s like a real-life Grand Theft Auto video game,” one former player reportedly told Corder. “There are many distractions with fights, guns, and money floating around. The environment is unlike any I’ve come from before.”

The report from AthlonSports.com includes allegations of bullying and violence and fighting over a gambling debt and a “gun culture.”

Via Brendon Kleen of AwfulAnnouncing.com, Sanders has threatened a “r amification ” regarding the report.

Corder appeared earlier this week on Dan LeBatard’s show to discuss the report.

“I just know I’ve talked to these kids, these young men,” Corder told LeBatard. “They’re scared, they’re worried about repercussions. I’m just doing what I think is what’s right, what needs to be done. If this was going on anywhere, I would think that anybody would want to know about it. Whether it’s the university, it’s the state, whether it’s the players, families, whatever that may be.”

Is Corder or Athlon concerned about legal action?

“There’s no reason to worry,” Corder said. “I vetted my sources. I checked, I double-checked. I have multiple people that I trust. Once you talk to more than two, three, four people, I have to go with my gut and I believe these guys.”

Believing his sources is one thing. Getting sued and having to defend himself in court against a defamation lawsuit backed by a deep-pocketed institution like Colorado and fronted by a charismatic and compelling coach like Deion is another.

Frankly, the mere existence of the report is a triple-dog dare to Colorado and Sanders. If it’s not true, sue. If you don’t sue, maybe it’s true.

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New legislation jeopardizes GOP's election hopes

Anna Claire Vollers, Stateline

Marilyn Gomez was sitting at her kitchen table in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Feb. 16 when news alerts and friends’ texts began pinging her phone: The all-Republican Alabama Supreme Court had ruled that frozen embryos created through in vitro fertilization were children under state law . That meant providers could be held liable for discarding them, a common part of the IVF process.

As Alabama clinics began suspending IVF services and public outrage mounted, politicians on both sides scrambled to distance themselves.

In Gomez’s quiet kitchen, it all felt deeply personal.

“I remember thinking, this is the only way I was able to become a mother,” Gomez told Stateline. She and her husband went through years of fertility treatments and multiple rounds of IVF before the birth of their daughter in 2016. Without freezing her embryos and going through IVF, she said, “I would not be a mom. My 8-year-old would not be here.”

Gomez owns a small business, called Infertile Tees , where she designs and sells shirts and accessories aimed at people experiencing infertility. Less than two hours after hearing about the Alabama court ruling, Gomez, who describes her political views as Democratic-leaning, had created a new set of T-shirt designs featuring the slogan “Protect IVF.”

In the wake of the Alabama ruling, potential threats to IVF access have become an election-year issue, pushing many political novices toward involvement and activism. Reproductive rights groups say they’ve seen unprecedented interest in protecting IVF access, and Democrats hope it will motivate voters in the swing states that will decide the election, including North Carolina.

At least 19 states — either through state law, criminal statutes or case law — have declared that fetuses at some stage of pregnancy are people, according to a 2023 report by Pregnancy Justice, a nonprofit that conducts research and advocates for the rights of pregnant people, including the right to abortion . Such statutes could, in theory, be used to restrict or ban IVF by classifying the destruction of embryos as causing the death of a child. The Alabama high court cited so-called fetal personhood language in the state constitution when it issued its decision.

Marilyn Gomez and her husband, Manny, struggled for years with infertility before conceiving their daughter through in vitro fertilization. Gomez’s experience led her to launch an apparel company called Infertile Tees and to get involved in advocating for legislation that protects and promotes access to IVF treatment for others. Nicole Bertrand Photography/Courtesy of Marilyn Gomez

North Carolina isn’t one of those 19 states, but conservatives there have been testing the waters.

A bill proposed last year by three Republican state representatives would have banned abortion from the moment of fertilization , and last year an appeals court judge terminated a woman’s parental rights for conduct during her pregnancy because “life begins at conception ,” though the opinion was later withdrawn .

Michigan , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin , all swing states, do have laws that include references to “unborn children.” And in Georgia, another contested state, the state’s abortion ban defines a person as “any human being including an unborn child.”

Democrats are eager to highlight the issue. The newly minted Democratic vice presidential candidate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz , has been outspoken about the seven years of fertility treatments he and his wife, Gwen, went through before conceiving.

“This is very personal for my wife and I,” Walz told a crowd in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, last week. “I remember each night praying that the call was going to come, and it was going to be good news. The phone would ring, tenseness in my stomach, and then the agony when you heard the treatments hadn’t worked.”

Republicans say the idea that IVF is under threat is overblown, and dismiss Democratic warnings as scare tactics .

Conservatives push to declare fetuses as people, with far-reaching consequences

“There is no concerted Republican, conservative, pro-life effort mounting against IVF,” said Cole Muzio, executive director of Frontline Policy Action, a Georgia organization that lobbies for abortion restrictions and other conservative policies.

“I think this is something the left largely has tried to use as a wedge issue, but I don’t think most people are buying it as something that’s a real threat,” he said.

But Muzio acknowledged that some anti-abortion advocates have asked his organization to talk more publicly about IVF. And he predicted that eventually, more conservative lawmakers will turn their attention to the issue.

“Long term, we believe in the value of human life, and that’s my concern with IVF, that it results in the discarding of human life,” he said. “Now that Roe has been overturned and we’re able to have legislative conversations and think about where life begins, it’s an important conversation to have.”

Following public backlash over the Alabama court decision, lawmakers in a dozen states, including Alabama, introduced bills to protect IVF , according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights.

But so far, only Alabama has enacted a law. In March, Alabama’s Republican-majority legislature hastily passed a measure shielding IVF providers from criminal and civil liability. The only other bill that gained traction was one in Louisiana, where both legislative chambers approved it. However, it was scuttled in May after the state’s powerful anti-abortion lobby opposed the removal of fetal personhood language that would have left IVF providers open to criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits.

Far-reaching consequences

For many people, the IVF issue illustrates how fetal personhood laws can have consequences far beyond abortion. And it has energized them.

People are saying to me they didn’t know IVF was on the line, that they were surprised it wasn’t protected in every state.

– Marilyn Gomez, a small-business owner in North Carolina who went through multiple rounds of IVF

The National Infertility Association, which goes by the name Resolve, has held a national advocacy day annually for more than two decades. This year, after the Alabama Supreme Court decision, more than a thousand people attended the event virtually, twice the number that attended last year, said Barbara Collura, CEO of Resolve.

“We ended up with our largest advocacy day ever,” she said. “More than half of the people attending were brand new to the event. We feel very much that what happened in Alabama motivated people to figure out a way for themselves to get involved.”

In North Carolina, Gomez sold out her “Protect IVF” T-shirts within 24 hours. She launched a new batch a week later, and sold out again. Since then, she’s continued selling new “Protect IVF” designs, donating a portion of her proceeds to Resolve.

Before getting involved in IVF advocacy, Gomez said she barely paid attention to politics. Now, she’s been active in supporting pro-IVF legislation and contacting her state lawmakers. And she often fields Instagram messages from customers in other states who are scared, she said, and want to know what they can do.

“People are saying to me they didn’t know IVF was on the line, that they were surprised it wasn’t protected in every state,” said Gomez, who sends them links to sites where they can learn more about the state of IVF access where they live. “Customers are saying their parents and grandparents are having these conversations in their social circles, saying they wouldn’t be grandparents without IVF.”

She added: “I think we forget how much power we have. Regardless of what happens with the presidency, we have so much control over what happens in our state.”

‘New territory’

Less than two weeks after the Alabama court decision, Jamie and Dontez Heard stood at one end of a long hallway on the fourth floor of the Alabama State House, staring nervously at all the doors of state lawmakers’ offices. They considered turning around and going back home.

Few states cover fertility treatment for same-sex couples, but that could be changing

“It was intimidating, and it was scary, not knowing what to say, thinking, ‘I’m going to stumble over my words,’” Jamie said. “What if I say the wrong thing? Neither one of us has ever been in any type of advocacy role, so this was new territory.”

The couple had driven down to Montgomery that morning from their home in Birmingham, anxious but determined to defend their chance at having another baby by convincing their legislators to save in vitro fertilization.

The court decision had landed just two days after the couple met with a specialist in Birmingham to begin a new round of IVF. They’d conceived their son, Legend, now 2, through IVF in 2022 after years of struggling through infertility. They’d hoped to add another child to their family this year.

“It was devastating,” said Jamie. “We didn’t understand what it meant for us and our family.” But a few days after the ruling, she saw a social media post that her fertility clinic had shared about a gathering of IVF families and supporters at the state Capitol.

“I knew then that we needed to be there,” she said. “We couldn’t afford to sit on the couch and wait and see how this plays out.”

Since speaking to Alabama lawmakers, Heard has testified before Congress and traveled to other states to advocate for federal and state laws that would protect access to IVF.

Jamie Heard of Birmingham, Ala., speaks in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., in March to encourage Congress to pass a bill protecting access to IVF treatments. Courtesy of Jamie Heard

Next door in the battleground state of Georgia, one of the biggest reproductive justice advocacy organizations in the Southeast recently launched its first-ever Black (in)Fertility Awareness Week . SisterSong, which is focused on reproductive rights for women of color, hosted a panel, documentary screening, online discussions and a raffle of $40,000 in fertility services for Black Georgia families.

Leah Jones, director of maternal health and birth equity at SisterSong, said the new initiative had been in the works for a while, but the Alabama ruling highlighted for people how IVF access is connected to other reproductive health issues, from preconception through pregnancy to postpartum.

“What we realized when we started this conversation around infertility in Black communities and listening to their stories, these are the same people talking about maternal health, abortion, mental health, birth justice,” said Jones. “Once you make the connection that this is part of an attack on overall bodily autonomy, I think that’s when it clicks for people.”

Even in Minnesota

As Minnesota’s governor, Walz in 2023 signed a law confirming the right to abortion and other reproductive health care in Minnesota.

Miraya Gran and her husband, Andy, conceived their daughter, Isla, through IVF. The Grans now advocate for state legislation in Minnesota that would require insurers to cover fertility treatments. Courtesy of Miraya Gran

And yet Minnesotans like Miraya Gran felt the shockwaves from the Alabama court decision. Gran and her husband struggled for years with infertility before finally conceiving their daughter Isla, now 3, through IVF.

Gran advocates for a Minnesota law that would require health insurers to cover fertility treatments.

“We saw some great momentum after the Alabama decision,” said Gran. “It didn’t really matter which political party you were a part of. If you believed in access to IVF, you joined our group.”

Gran said she considers Minnesota a “safe state” for IVF access and other reproductive rights, at least for now. “But we look to our neighbors in Iowa, where they introduced some personhood bills recently. It’s terrifying. It’s too close to home.”

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Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: [email protected] . Follow Stateline on Facebook and X .

Stories Chosen For You

Do you think vice president kamala harris should be the next president, 'she's all talk' trump lashes out after harris blames him for border deal's collapse.

Donald Trump attacked Kamala Harris for pledging to improve border security and blaming Republican lawmakers for the failure of a bipartisan immigration bill.

The vice president promised to sign similar legislation into law if elected to succeed President Joe Biden and touted her own record as California attorney general, saying she had prosecuted "transnational gangs, the drug cartels and the human traffickers," but Trump lashed out on social media.

"Kamala Harris just said, after 10 years of weak statements, and 3 1/2 years of REALLY WEAK ACTIONS, that she wants to get tough on the Border," Trump posted on Truth Social. "Well, why hasn’t she done it, it’s almost four years too late. She’s all talk, NO ACTION! Our Country is being absolutely obliterated by her, our wonderful 'Border Czar,' allowing millions of people to pour in, totally unchecked and unvetted, with large numbers of terrorists, and many others from prisons and mental institutions."

Federal data estimates 4.2 million people entered the country illegally since Biden took office, although Republicans insist that number is closer to 8 million, and migration experts say there's no evidence of widespread entry into the U.S. by criminals or mental patients.

ALSO READ: Trump’s smear job climaxed prematurely — and now he’s stuck

"Because of her, we have become a DUMPING GROUND FOR THE WORLD," the ex-president said. "KAMALA BROKE IT, I WILL FIX IT!"

Harris reminded voters that senior Republicans, including Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, acknowledge that Trump's opposition killed the border deal because he wanted to campaign on that issue hoped to deprive Biden of a political win.

“Donald Trump [doesn’t] want to fix this problem," Harris said over the weekend at a rally in Phoenix, Arizona. "He talks a big game — about a lot of things — but he talks a big game about border security. But he does not walk the walk.”

'Get him off Truth Social': GOP strategist hints Trump campaign intervention needed

Republican strategist Shermichael Singleton on Monday suggested that some kind of intervention is needed when it comes to former President Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.

During an appearance on CNN , Singleton was asked by host Jim Acosta about Trump's behavior in recent days, which has included lengthy rants falsely claiming that Vice President Kamala Harris used artificial intelligence to inflate the size of her crowds at rallies.

"I was talking to a Trump adviser earlier and asking him about Trump harping on this crowd size issue and asking, you know, why is he doing this?" Acosta revealed. "And the response I got in the text was, 'No effing clue.'"

Singleton responded by pointing to a Fox News appearance on Monday from former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who encouraged Trump to focus in on the issues rather than making wild claims about Harris faking crowd sizes.

ALSO READ: Right-wing podcaster bought West Virginia skate park — then rebellion ensued

Singleton also said that Trump needed to hit the trail more so that he could get some positive affirmation.

Acosta pointed out that there has been some talk of having an intervention in the campaign, with longtime adviser Kellyanne Conway reportedly being considered to come aboard.

"They have to get the former president back out there, on the campaign trail, making those cases in battleground states to voters versus what we're seeing on Truth Social," he said.

"Get him off Truth Social?" asked Acosta.

"Absolutely!" Singleton replied.

Watch the video below or at this link.

Western media hail Olympics while Russia scorns 'shameful' Games

The Paris Olympics won mostly rave reviews from western media after they closed on Sunday, while media in Russia , whose team were excluded because of its war in Ukraine , sniffed at France's success.

Los Angeles Times sports columnist Bill Plaschke wondered whether Tinseltown was up to the task of rivalling Paris when it hosts the next Summer Olympics in 2028.

"We have to somehow take greatness and make it even greater," he wrote, calling the Games in France "a blockbuster Parisian party that was two weeks of pure Hollywood".

"How on earth can the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics surpass what the world just witnessed in a two-week burst of picturesque rejoicing from the Champ de Mars to the Palace of Versailles?"

The New York Times was generous in its praise of the sporting extravaganza, saying it lifted France from its gloom brought on by political crisis.

"Many are reluctant to let go of its magic: of the adrenaline-fuelled excitement, of the party free of political debate, of the sense of time deliciously suspended, like the glowing Olympic cauldron that has hovered wistfully over the city every night."

- 'Love letter' -

The Guardian of Britain hailed the Games' message which it said was "the importance of protecting the spirit of the games in an uncertain world riven by conflict".

But Jim White, writing in The Telegraph, said that Paris "could not match the spirit and warmth of London 2012".

The Italian media was unanimous in its praise, with Corriere della Sera saying Paris had "overcome its fears" despite a prologue marked by "rain, pollution of the Seine and sabotage".

La Repubblica highlighted the "Diversity Olympics".

Spain's El Mundo added: "The Paris of the Olympics was the most dedicated Paris we'd seen in a very long time."

Germany's Die Welt praised the security ensured by the French, saying Paris showed how the Games can be organised "safely in a metropolis in a free and democratic country".

Poland's Rzeczpospolita called the Paris Games "a love letter" while Gazeta Wyborcza noted that nearly all the competitions "took place in front of full stands".

In Portugal, the editor of daily Correio da Manha, Carlos Rodrigues, called the Games "a magnificent success".

"In sporting terms too, Paris was a success, even if it didn't dazzle or create a world star capable of rivalling the likes of Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps."

But others including Frank Renout, writing for Dutch daily newspaper Het Parool, warned that the magic would not last.

"Soon everything will return to normal, which in the case of the French means dark and confrontational," he wrote.

"If 'happiness' were an Olympic sport, France would never have won a medal."

- 'Endless scandals' -

In Russia, however, some newspapers found fault.

"The Paris Games weren't flawless," said Moskovsky Komsomolets, a pro-Kremlin mass circulation newspaper, stressing it remained unclear who sabotaged France's high-speed rail network before the opening ceremony.

The newspaper argued that spectators will remember "an endless series of scandals" and not the athletes' sporting feats or records.

Komsomolskaya Pravda, a pro-Kremlin tabloid, said the competitions in Paris were "the most shameful Olympic Games in history".

"The Paris 2024 organisers managed to offend hundreds of millions of people with an opening ceremony and a parody of the Last Supper. And then the Olympics became increasingly embroiled in problems, scandals and even crime."

One of its subheads read: "Vomiting athletes, champions with male chromosomes in women's boxing and worms in food."

In Algeria, an editorial in government daily El Moudjahid praised Algerian boxing champion Imane Khelif, who was at the centre of a gender eligibility row at the Paris Games.

"Imane's victory is also a victory for the oppressed and the excluded, but above all it is a victory for the law, which for too long has been trampled by the logic of the powerful, who are greedy for domination and adept at double-standard policies."

Democrats are running away from ‘packing’ the Supreme Court

It's time for bill barr to be brought to justice, how harris and walz are fighting trump with joy and positivity — and winning.

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New York Times Strands Hints and Answers for August 12, 2024

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7 Best Philosophical Puzzle Games

New york times strands hints and answers for august 13, 2024, baldur's gate 3: how the infernal legion effect works.

Strands has a whole new challenging puzzle to try to contend with today. While the theme for puzzle number 162 isn't too hard, spelling and thinking up some of the themed words is the hard part. If you're stuck, you aren't alone.

If a couple of hints would help you on your journey to complete this browser-based puzzle game , you can find everything you need below. This guide has a bunch of hints, spoilers, and the full answer as well.

There are plenty of puzzle games out there for gamers to try, but not all of them embrace philosophical themes. Here are the best that do.

The NYT Games Strands Puzzle #162 August 12, 2024

The Strands puzzle for today has the clue Everybody Cut Footloose! It has seven items to find: six themed words and a Spangram.

New York Times Games Strands Clues

According to the rules of Strands , the only in-game clues give away entire words. If you don't want to see any spoilers but would rather see just a few nudges to get you closer to the theme, check out the three sections below.

General Hint 1

Hint 1 : What is Footloose?

General Hint 2

Hint 2 : To the beat.

General Hint 3

Hint 3 : Different ways of moving your body to music.

Spoilers for Two of the Words in Today's Strands

If a spoiled word or two would help, but you don't want to take the time to look for non-themed words in the puzzle to earn your hints, check out the sections below. Each contains just one of the words from today's puzzle.

Word 1 : Moonwalk

Word 2 : Hustle

The Answer to Today's New York Times Games Strands

Want to see the full spoiler for the Strands puzzle number 162 for August 12? In the expandable section below are all the themed words, the Spangram, and a screenshot of where all these words belong in this New York Times Games puzzle game .

The category for today is DanceMoves . The words are Vogue, Hustle, Pirouette, Floss, Twerk, and Moonwalk.

Today's Strands Explained

Today's Strands can be a difficult puzzle to get. If you completed it and still don't get it, the expandable section below contains a full explanation for how the themed words, the Spangram, and the clue all fit together in this difficult puzzle game .

Everybody Cut Footloose! is a reference to the dance-themed movie called Footloose . Each of the themed words is a different kind of Dance Move or dance craze.

Want to play? Check out the New York Times Games Strands website available on almost any device with a browser.

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What Denny Hamlin said about Austin Dillon, NASCAR after wreck-filled Richmond finish

Austin Dillon wiped out two of NASCAR's best drivers to win Sunday's Cup Series race at Richmond , and both were not happy about it.

Dillon initially drove through the final corner on the final lap to wreck Joey Logano, who had taken the lead on the restart a lap and a half beforehand. The driver of the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet then came down, turning left into the passing Denny Hamlin, turning the No. 11 Toyota sharply right and into the wall.

With no one left around him to throw a bumper to, Dillon sped to the start-finish line to win the race and lock himself into the playoffs despite entering the Richmond race during a dreadful 2024 season at 32nd in points.

Logano displayed more raw emotion than Hamlin initially, spinning his tires in front of the No. 3 team on pit road postrace, then calling Dillon's actions a "chicken (expletive)" move during an interview with USA Network.

Hamlin was thinking of the larger picture postrace, understanding that the Wild Wild West-like nature of battles for the lead on the last lap are now more commonplace in the Cup Series.

INSANITY ON THE FINAL LAP AT RICHMOND. AUSTIN DILLON WINS AFTER CRASHING JOEY LOGANO AND DENNY HAMLIN. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/mpQKcK236J — NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 12, 2024

"We have rules to prevent ridiculous acts, but, you know, it's been a long time since the rules have been enforced," Hamlin said postrace, per Sportsnaut's Matt Weaver.

Denny Hamlin says NASCAR parks people two laps for what Austin Dillon did; and that it shouldn't stand and that it's an example of the current lawless NASCAR pic.twitter.com/ifemtAWCgn — Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) August 12, 2024

Hamlin noted that in the Truck Series in June at Nashville, Layne Riggs was given a two-lap penalty for reckless driving after contact with Stefan Parsons. But it is a very rare penalty.

Denny Hamlin: NASCAR loses legitimacy as a sport with Richmond crash-fest finish

In the last 30 years or so, NASCAR has historically not penalized drivers for contact late in races while racing for the win. Fans of the sport can recall many Cup races (Dale Earnhardt vs. Terry Labonte in 1999 at Bristol comes to mind among others) where contact has played a role in deciding winners and losers.

But the intent of that kind of racing has started to shift over the last decade, first in the lower national series. For example, Ty Gibbs drove through teammate Brandon Jones at Martinsville to take the lead on the final lap and win the race to make the 2022 Championship 4 in the Xfinity Series. The move occurred without penalty.

Now that kind of racing is front and center in the Cup Series, as evidenced by Dillon's moves on Sunday. Racing for the win has turned into wrecking for the win.

Hamlin admitted that the payoff (a win to make the Cup playoffs) for Dillon was worth the payback (the way Logano and Hamlin might race Dillon in the future) in the short and long term. Hamlin has a point, too; the playoffs have increasingly encouraged drivers and teams to be in win-at-all-costs mode.

As Dillon made the move to spin out Logano and Hamlin surged below him, Dillon's spotter yelled out, "Wreck him!" as the driver complied to turn Hamlin into the wall.

Hamlin was very critical of NASCAR and the way the sanctioning body has ruled on similar situations in the past. Hamlin and crew chief Chris Gabehart visited the NASCAR hauler after speaking with the media.

"There are no guardrails or rules that say, 'Don't do that.'" Hamlin said. "There's no one in the tower that has any problem with it."

"We're never, ever going to get taken seriously as a sport because we have no real officiating."

New Times, New Thinking.

• Spotlight on Policy
• Sustainability

Why critical materials could make or break Labour’s climate plans

The government's plans for clean power by 2030 hinge on far more than simply an increase in renewable energy infrastructure.

By Megan Kenyon

This article was originally published as an edition of the Green Transition, New Statesman Spotlight’s weekly newsletter on the economics of net zero.  To see more editions and subscribe, click here .

In the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UK’s energy security has been catapulted into the spotlight. Britain’s reliance on imported natural gas left it exposed to the volatile international energy market. As a result, our energy prices shot up.

Ed Miliband and his team at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero have grand plans to tackle this. They include accelerating the UK’s use of “clean, homegrown power” and turbocharging the transition to renewables. 

By increasing our reliance on renewable power generated at home, the UK could – in theory – find itself energy independent. But there is another element of the pursuit of energy security that is often overlooked: wind turbines and solar panels are dependent on expensive, often imported, critical raw materials. As it currently stands, the UK remains a relatively resource-poor country. 

The experts at Green Alliance  have been looking into this and have produced a state-of-the-nation report assessing the current situation, which they have shared exclusively with the Green Transition . According to Mission Critical – Safeguarding Resources for UK Energy Security , the new Labour government must find a fresh approach to critical raw materials, and embed it within its energy security strategy. 

The Saturday Read

Morning call.

Currently, the UK is nearly 100 per cent reliant on certain imported materials that are needed for the construction of electric vehicles, wind turbines and solar panels. This includes things like lithium, which is needed to construct EV batteries. Since the UK has few raw materials of its own, we must look abroad for the resources we need to achieve our clean-power goals.

Green Alliance recommends that the UK take a more circular approach, rather than remaining dependent on expensive imports. This would mean building in capacity to reuse, re-manufacture and recycle the materials used to build solar panels and windfarms. At the end of a product’s lifespan – as old solar panels, batteries and other goods become waste products – the UK ends up being a major exporter of the same critical raw materials that we import. 

[See also: Can Chris Stark succeed as “Head of Mission Control”? ]

Libby Peake, head of resource policy at Green Alliance and one of the report’s authors, explained that “although [the UK is] quite resource poor in terms of our geological formations of these critical raw materials, we are accumulating a wealth of them in the products and the infrastructure around us”. 

She said that instead of continuing as we currently are – importing materials for construction and then exporting them as waste at the end of products’ lives – the UK instead should look to integrate plans for reuse. “If you’re thinking about long-term resource security and energy security, end-of-life infrastructure could be really valuable assets – you could just keep reusing the materials over and over again,” Peake explained. 

Peake told the GT : “If we don’t move quickly, we’ll wind up having locked-in supply chains… which is expensive and risky.” She said there needs to be a mindset shift around how we approach waste: “We want to look at the waste from wind turbines and solar panels and think of it as an asset. We need to think of a way we can ensure we can reuse the materials, and ideally the products, again, so we don’t have to keep making more and more projects and so we don’t leave ourselves exposed to these volatile supply chains.”

Peake is right. Finding our own, independent way forward is becoming increasingly urgent. Many of the global supply chains for critical minerals are dominated by China , and other potential hostile and competitor nations. At the current rate, demand for the critical raw materials essential to the global energy transition is expected to grow by three and a half times by 2030, the target year the government has set in its race to achieve clean power.

Shifting mindsets takes time. But with a flurry of new clean-power projects currently beginning to take shape (GB Energy, the National Wealth Fund and Clean Power 2030), perhaps this is the most opportune moment.

[See also: Can GB Energy make Britain an energy superpower? ]

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