Critical thinking is the disciplined process of examining information, ideas, and claims before deciding what to believe or do. It involves asking clear questions, identifying assumptions, and separating facts from opinions.

A critical thinker evaluates the quality of evidence, considers alternative explanations, and looks for errors in reasoning, bias, or missing information. The goal is not to criticize everything, but to reach conclusions that are reasonable and well supported.

Critical thinking also requires intellectual humility. This means remaining open to new evidence, recognizing the limits of one’s knowledge, and being willing to revise a belief when stronger information becomes available.