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The fundamental Attitude of Critical Thinking

Critical thinking begins with a particular mindset, which includes the following elements:

1. Intellectual curiosity​

  • An active interest in various topics and perspectives
  • A willingness to ask questions and to seek answers
  • A desire to go beyond superficial knowledge

2. Intellectual humility 1​

  • Recognizing the limits of one's own knowledge
  • A willingness to examine and revise one's own convictions
  • Openness to criticism and feedback

2 bis. Or prudence​

As an alternative to humility, the fundamental attitude of critical thinking can also be summed up as prudence. In Greek philosophy (e.g. in Aristotle), sophrosyne (prudence, Greek σωφροσύνη) was regarded as a virtue related to humility – a balance between overestimating oneself and submissiveness.

Examples:

  • An athlete who does not boast after a victory, but also does not deny their achievement.
  • A manager who acts neither risk-averse nor recklessly, but decides in a measured way.
  • Someone who stays calm in an argument and neither becomes abusive nor submits.

3. Intellectual autonomy​

  • Independent thinking and judgment
  • Resistance to the uncritical adoption of opinions
  • Responsibility for one's own convictions and decisions

4. Intellectual integrity​

  • Consistent application of intellectual standards
  • Honesty about contradictions in one's own thinking
  • A willingness to acknowledge uncomfortable truths

5. Intellectual perseverance​

  • Persistence in solving complex problems
  • Patience in dealing with ambiguity and uncertainty
  • A willingness to invest time and effort in thorough thinking

Footnotes​

  1. Many critical thinkers dislike the word "humility", because it has something submissive about it. It comes from the Germanic language area (thiomo = "servant", "vassal") and was originally connected with the idea of serving. In Christianity, humility became a central virtue (Latin humilitas), standing in opposition to pride (superbia). Here it means submission to God and the acknowledgment of one's own imperfection. In a philosophical and secular context, it is rather about self-reflection and the absence of arrogance – that is, an attitude that leaves room for others. ↩