Toward a Creative Criticality – A Review of Critical Thinking Concepts

Toward a Creative Criticality – A Review of Critical Thinking Concepts

The article “Toward a Creative Criticality: Revisiting Critical Thinking” by Tracy Cooper addresses the challenges of teaching critical and creative thinking to online graduate students in liberal arts, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary programs. Cooper argues for integrating critical and creative thinking, suggesting that both modes are essential for solving complex problems.

Context of the Article

Cooper highlights the challenge of higher education: fostering critical thinking and creativity among students, especially in online environments. The emphasis on critical thinking, often seen as rational and evaluative, can overshadow the need for creative thinking. Cooper critiques this imbalance and calls for “creative criticality,” which values both critical and creative thought processes.

Symbiotic Approach to Thinking

The symbiotic approach advocated by Cooper is about integrating these two forms of thinking to produce well-rounded, innovative thinkers. This involves demystifying creativity, making it accessible to all students, and demonstrating its utility alongside critical thinking. Cooper emphasizes that creativity is not limited to artistic endeavors but is a broader way of being, knowing, and acting in the world. By teaching students to be both critical and creative thinkers, educators can help them develop skills that are essential for lifelong learning and adaptation in a complex world.

Balancing Skeptical Scrutiny with Openness

Cooper’s approach aligns with Carl Sagan’s idea of balancing skeptical scrutiny with openness to new ideas, underscoring that both modes are necessary to avoid becoming trapped in dogma or uncritical acceptance. The challenge, particularly in online graduate programs, is to engage students and faculty in dynamic, interactive learning experiences that foster this dual capacity (Li et al., 2021).

Conclusion

In summary, the article calls for rethinking critical thinking education to include and emphasize creative thinking, arguing that this integrated approach will better prepare students for the intellectual demands of the modern world.

References

Li, M., Morey, D. A., & Rayo, M. F. (2021). Symbiotic Design Application in Healthcare: Preventing Hospital Acquired Infections. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care, 10(1), 211–216. https://doi.org/10.1177/2327857921101138

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Write a 250- to 300-word response to the following:
Discuss the context of the article and your perceptions of the author’s symbiotic approach.