University of Life Writing Center

‘Critical thinking’ encompasses several cognitive skills, but it all boils
down to skillfully thinking things through.

“Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and
skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or
evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation,
experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief
and action.” 1

“Critical thinking is thinking that assesses itself.” 2

One thing the “critical” in “critical thinking” doesn’t mean is “negative.”
In fact, habitually negative people are less likely to be actual critical
thinkers, who are more prone to finding solutions and not simply blaming
any personal discomfort on any and all of the world’s failings and
imperfections.