- What is rational thinking?
- What is scientific thinking?
- Quiz: What can you remember? True or False?
- Sources (alphabetically ordered)
What is rational thinking?
“Thinking according to logical rules” — APA Dictionary of Psychology
Rationality means thinking and making decisions based on clear thought, reason, and logic. A rational person is someone who uses intelligent thinking instead of emotions when making choices. Humans are not always rational by default, but they can choose to think and act in a rational way. Being rational comes from a Latin word meaning reasonable and logical. If you're rational, you make decisions based on logic rather than impulsive or random desires. In simpler terms, being rational means using good reasoning to make sensible choices. (Hitti, L. E. E. (2019, October 7)).
“[Rationality] requires developing a system of thought[…]” — Charlie Munger
Charlie Munger is a businessman, investor, and philanthropist well-known for being Warren Buffett's right-hand man. Some say he is the “most rational person in the world”. Rational and scientific thinking is a large topic and is researched in multiple ways. But one way to achieve more rational thinking, that Charlie Munger means here, is through so called mental models. He is a proponent of using them to make better decisions and has spoken extensively about the importance of mental models in his investment strategy. (Dubrovina, O. (2019)).
What is scientific thinking?
“[Scientific thinking is the] mode of thinking in which the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking — about any scientific subject, content, or problem — by skillfully taking charge of the structures inherent in thinking […]” — Paul, R. & Elder, L. (2019)
Scientific thinking is a way of thinking that helps improve the quality of our thoughts when dealing with scientific subjects. It involves taking control of our thinking process and applying intellectual standards to make it better. (Paul, R. & Elder, L. (2019)).
By developing scientific thinking skills, we become:
- Skilled at asking important and clear scientific questions.
- Able to gather and evaluate relevant scientific information using laws, theories, and ideas to understand it.
- Capable of reaching well-reasoned scientific conclusions and solutions, testing them against appropriate criteria.
- Open-minded thinkers who consider different scientific perspectives, recognizing assumptions and consequences.
- Effective communicators, able to propose solutions to complex scientific problems.
Scientific thinking, like critical thinking, is about directing and disciplining ourselves, monitoring and correcting our thoughts. It requires following high standards and developing our problem-solving and communication abilities. It's all about becoming better thinkers in the world of science. (Paul, R. & Elder, L. (2019)).
Quiz: What can you remember? True or False?
- Rationality means thinking and making decisions based on clear thought, reason, and logic.
- Humans are always rational by default.
- Being rational means using good reasoning to make sensible choices.
- Scientific thinking helps improve the quality of our thoughts when dealing with scientific subjects by taking control of our thinking process and applying intellectual standards.
- Developing scientific thinking skills allows us to become skilled at asking important and clear scientific questions, gather and evaluate relevant scientific information using laws, theories, and ideas, reach well-reasoned scientific conclusions and solutions, consider different scientific perspectives, and communicate effectively to propose solutions to complex scientific problems.
Go to next page: Why should I think rationally and scientifically?
Sources (alphabetically ordered)
- APA Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). https://dictionary.apa.org/rational-thinking
- Concepts and Principles. Rowman & Littlefield. https://www.criticalthinking.org/store/get_file.php?inventories_id=170&inventories_files_id=421
- Dubrovina, O. (2019). The Art of Being Rational: Charlie Munger.
- Hitti, L. E. E. (2019, October 7). Rational Thinking. www.linkedin.com. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rational-thinking-lord-edwin-e-hitti/
- Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2019). The Thinker’s Guide to Scientific Thinking: Based on Critical Thinking Concepts and Principles. Rowman & Littlefield. https://www.criticalthinking.org/store/get_file.php?inventories_id=170&inventories_files_id=421
- TEDx Talks. (2014, 10. November). How to think like a scientist | Quin Patton | TEDxKids@SMU [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvHearuBEFM