Back to Search
Start Over
Revisiting the Origin of Critical Thinking
- Source :
-
Educational Philosophy and Theory . 2024 56(7):724-733. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- There are two popular views regarding the origin of critical thinking: (1) The concept of critical thinking began with Socrates and his Socratic method of questioning. (2) The term 'critical thinking' was first introduced by John Dewey in 1910 in his book "How We Think." This paper argues that both claims are incorrect. Firstly, critical reflection was a distinguishing characteristic of the Presocratic philosophers, setting them apart from earlier traditions. Therefore, they should be recognized as even earlier pioneers of critical thinking. Secondly, John Dewey not only used the term 'critical thinking' before 1910, but there were also other authors who used it before him. The meaning of 'critical thinking' at the turn of the twentieth century was shaped by various traditions of linguistic usage, including literary criticism, science and medicine, and Kantian philosophy.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0013-1857 and 1469-5812
- Volume :
- 56
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- ERIC
- Journal :
- Educational Philosophy and Theory
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- EJ1427896
- Document Type :
- Journal Articles<br />Reports - Evaluative
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00131857.2024.2320199