Discovering the Art of Critical Thinking: How to Think Like a Philosopher

By Conqueror Team

Philosophy is often associated with a complicated, abstract, and difficult-to-understand subject. However, philosophical thinking is more than just a branch of knowledge – it is a way of looking at the world and analyzing what we see around us. To think like a philosopher means to explore questions that have remained unanswered, to critically examine our own beliefs and assumptions, and to push the boundaries of what we know about ourselves and our surroundings. In this blog post, we’ll explore some key strategies that will help you develop your philosophical thinking skills.

Ask the Right Questions

Asking questions is the backbone of philosophical thinking. Rather than accepting what we’re told, we need to question what we see, hear, and read. Asking the right questions allows us to dig deeper into the issues at hand and examine them from multiple angles. Start by asking yourself ‘why,’ ‘how,’ and ‘what if’ questions. Don’t settle for surface-level answers but instead, seek to go beyond them.

Challenge Assumptions

Assumptions are beliefs that we take for granted without questioning them. It’s essential to identify your assumptions and use critical thinking to evaluate their validity. A helpful way of questioning assumptions is to ask yourself, “how can I be sure of this?” You’ll be surprised how often we hold beliefs that we don’t truly understand or know the origins.

Take a Socratic Approach

A Socratic method is a form of asking questions to encourage critical thinking. Rather than giving direct answers, Socratic questioning guides the conversation to reach a deeper understanding. To use the Socratic method, you will need to listen actively, ask open-ended questions, and avoid making judgments.

Analyze Arguments

Analyzing arguments means going beyond the surface level and examining the reasoning that supports them. Philosophical thinking involves evaluating the evidence, identifying fallacies, and assessing the strength of arguments. When analyzing arguments, pay attention to assumptions, premises, and conclusions, and consider the context in which the argument is made.

Embrace Uncertainty

Philosophical thinking is about embracing the unknown and being comfortable with uncertainty. After all, questioning beliefs, assumptions, and concepts means that you are likely to encounter viewpoints different from your own. But instead of being afraid of these differences, use them to challenge your own beliefs and engage in critical thinking.