Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Most nations on earth are traditional societies
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Most nations on earth are traditional societies
In such nations, knowledge is seen as a
community treasure to pass down from generation
to generation.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Most nations on earth are traditional societies
Knowledge is the society’s greatest treasure.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Most nations on earth are traditional societies
Knowledge is the society’s greatest treasure.
Knowledge is not owned by individuals but by the
society.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Most nations on earth are traditional societies
Knowledge is the society’s greatest treasure.
Knowledge is not owned by individuals but by the
society.
Knowledge is passed on from one generation to
another.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Students in such societies are expected to learn the
knowledge of the society.
Memorization is a very important skill, and most
education requires memorization.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
In a traditional society, students who question or
criticize the knowledge they are receiving, may put
the society in danger because:
 such students might not learn what they need to
learn, or
they might damage the knowledge itself.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
In most traditional societies, students are not
QUALIFIED to question or criticize the knowledge of
their society until they have learned it very well, are
mature, and have a good teacher to guide them to
the right questions to ask.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
The most important values in traditional society
education are:
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
The most important values in traditional society
education are:
 Memorizing the knowledge you have been given.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
The most important values in traditional society
education are:
 Memorizing the knowledge you have been given.
 Accepting your teacher as your guide.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
The most important values in traditional society
education are:
 Memorizing the knowledge you have been given.
 Accepting your teacher as your guide.
 Learning how to pass your knowledge on to others.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
In a traditional society, you must learn the
knowledge of the society before you are QUALIFIED
to criticize it or add to it.
People who are not qualified should not be
changing the tradition.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
In a Traditional Society, the most unacceptable
behaviors are:
Asking why you have to learn what you are being
taught.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
In a Traditional Society, the most unacceptable
behaviors are:
 Asking why you have to learn what you are being
taught.
 Disagreeing with your teacher (since you are not
QUALIFIED).
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
In a Traditional Society, the most unacceptable
behaviors are:
 Asking why you have to learn what you are being
taught.
 Disagreeing with your teacher (since you are not
QUALIFIED).
 Criticizing the knowledge you are being given.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Education in a Traditional Society has a long and
honored history. It is the DISCIPLESHIP MODEL
used from ancient times and found in the
relationship between Jesus and his disciples.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
It includes:
 A teacher with great knowledge who has proven
that he can be trusted with the traditions of the
society.
 Students who submit to the teacher in order to
become like him both in knowledge and in the way
they use their knowledge.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Traditional society education is good education. It
is not better or worse as an education model than
Western education. It is just different from Western.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
In traditional societies, research papers have
several purposes:
 To allow the student to show understanding of a
subject area.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
In traditional societies, research papers have
several purposes:
 To allow the student to show understanding of a
subject area.
 To allow the student to read the best writing of
great scholars on a certain subject.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
In traditional societies, research papers have
several purposes:
 To allow the student to show understanding of a
subject area.
 To allow the student to read the best writing of
great scholars on a certain subject.
 To allow the student to demonstrate that the
teacher’s view on a certain issue is correct.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
In Traditional Societies, Research Papers must not:
Promote views that are not generally accepted by
the society.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
In Traditional Societies, Research Papers must not:
Promote views that are not generally accepted by
the society.
Criticize the views of other scholars.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
In Traditional Societies, Research Papers must not:
Promote views that are not generally accepted by
the society.
Criticize the views of other scholars.
Suggest new approaches to a subject if the
professor has not already suggested them.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Western Society Promotes Knowledge as a
Means, Not an End
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
In Western Society, knowledge is seen more
as a tool to produce new knowledge than as
a treasure to be passed on.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Why is the western view of knowledge so
different?
Most people in the West have come from
somewhere else. They have left behind their
traditional cultures.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
The West does not have a long history, except
for its native people. Thus it has few traditions
of its own.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
The West believes that knowledge is a means
or a tool.
Knowledge is not valued because of what it is,
but because of what it does.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
The West, in fact, does not really value
knowledge at all.
Knowledge is only important if it is useful.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Western education does not find much value
in:
Memorization (While some memorization happens,
usually if you need to know something, you can look it
up).
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Western education does not find much value
in:
Memorization (While some memorization happens,
usually if you need to know something, you can look it
up).
Repeating what others have already said.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Western education does not find much value
in:
Memorization (While some memorization happens,
usually if you need to know something, you can look it
up).
Repeating what others have already said.
Encouraging students simply to accept what the
professor says without questioning it.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Western education does not find much value
in:
Memorization (While some memorization happens,
usually if you need to know something, you can look
it up).
Repeating what others have already said.
Encouraging students simply to accept what the
professor says without questioning it.
Supporting only the approved view.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Western education values:
Using the knowledge we have to create new
knowledge.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Western education values:
Using the knowledge we have to create new
knowledge.
Using independent thinking to find new solutions
to old problems.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Western education values:
Using the knowledge we have to create new
knowledge.
Using independent thinking to find new solutions
to old problems.
Evaluating everything with good questions and
critical thinking.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Western education does not place much
value in “opinions.”
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
What is an “opinion?”
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
What is an “opinion?”
It is a viewpoint that can’t be supported by
evidence
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
What is an “opinion?”
It is a viewpoint that can’t be supported by
evidence
It is a viewpoint that others can disagree with
easily and not need evidence either
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
“I like chocolate ice cream” is an opinion:
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
“I like chocolate ice cream” is an opinion:
There is no evidence that can prove chocolate ice
cream tastes good.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
“I like chocolate ice cream” is an opinion:
There is no evidence that can prove chocolate ice
cream tastes good.
If you don’t like chocolate ice cream, you don’t
need to prove your point of view with evidence. It’s
just your “opinion.”
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Western education places a high value on
critical thinking
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking demands two things:
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking demands two things:
Good questions
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking demands two things:
Good questions
Good use of evidence
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
What’s a good question?
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
What’s a good question?
A good question asks why we should believe
that a statement is correct.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
What’s a good question?
A good question asks why we should believe
that a statement is correct.
A good question asks what problems there are
in a statement that might show it’s not correct.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
What’s good evidence?
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
What’s good evidence?
Good evidence must follow proper rules – that it is
fairly presented, that it is not biased, that it is
something that a reader would accept as evidence.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
What’s good evidence?
Good evidence must follow proper rules – that it is
fairly presented, that it is not biased, that it is
something that a reader would accept as evidence.
Good evidence must consider and answer other
possible interpretations.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Practice with Critical Thinking
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
A man is accused of murder. This is the evidence
against him:
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
A man is accused of murder. This is the evidence
against him:
An elderly lady saw him leaving the apartment of
the dead man the night of his death.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
A man is accused of murder. This is the evidence
against him:
An elderly lady saw him leaving the apartment of
the dead man the night of his death.
He hated the dead man and earlier had
threatened to kill him.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
A man is accused of murder. This is the evidence
against him:
An elderly lady saw him leaving the apartment of
the dead man the night of his death.
He hated the dead man and earlier had
threatened to kill him.
In the accused man’s house was a ticket to
Europe dated two days after the murder. The ticket
had been bought before the murder.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
How would you judge whether or not this man
did the crime?
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
How would you judge whether or not this man
did the crime?
Ask what physical evidence there was – fingerprints, clothing
with blood on it, etc.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
How would you judge whether or not this man
did the crime?
Ask what physical evidence there was – fingerprints, clothing
with blood on it, etc.
Check the elderly lady’s eyesight.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
How would you judge whether or not this man
did the crime?
Ask what physical evidence there was – fingerprints, clothing
with blood on it, etc.
Check the elderly lady’s eyesight.
Check to see if the accused’s alibi can be supported.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
How would you judge whether or not this man
did the crime?
Ask what physical evidence there was – fingerprints,
clothing with blood on it, etc.
Check the elderly lady’s eyesight.
Check to see if the accused’s alibi can be supported.
See if there is another explanation for the airline ticket (e.g.
the accused was being sent on a business trip by his
employer.)
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
How would you judge whether or not this man
did the crime?
Ask what physical evidence there was – fingerprints,
clothing with blood on it, etc.
Check the elderly lady’s eyesight.
Check to see if the accused man’s alibi can be supported.
See if there is another explanation for the airline ticket (e.g.
the accused was being sent on a business trip by his
employer.)
See if there are any other suspects.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
What is Critical Thinking?
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
What is Critical Thinking?
It is not thinking that criticizes everything
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
What is Critical Thinking?
It is not thinking that is rude and unkind.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
What is Critical Thinking?
It is thinking that asks questions because it is
looking for certainty.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
What is Critical Thinking?
It is thinking that asks questions because it is
looking for certainty.
Critical thinking seeks evidence to show why
something should be believed or not believed.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
What is Critical Thinking?
It is thinking that asks questions because it is
looking for certainty.
Critical thinking seeks evidence to show why
something should be believed or not believed.
Critical thinking assumes that not everything you
hear, even from a professor, is accurate.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
Some Warnings about Critical Thinking
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
We sometimes fail to use critical thinking because
we trust a certain writer or speaker too much.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
We sometimes fail to use critical thinking because
we trust a certain writer or speaker too much.
It is possible, on the other hand, to distrust
everything we see and hear. That is not good
either.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
We sometimes fail to use critical thinking because
we trust a certain writer or speaker too much.
It is possible, on the other hand, to distrust
everything we see and hear. That is not good
either.
We need to be sure that the evidence we are
using is handled correctly and without bias.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
We need to be sure we have enough evidence.
How much is enough?
Imagine that you have heard or read something that
gives you doubts. What evidence would remove
your doubts?
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
We need to be sure we have enough evidence.
How much is enough? Imagine that you have heard
or read something that gives you doubts. What
evidence would remove your doubts?
 When using critical thinking, we must present all
arguments and we must present them fairly.
Western Education &
Critical Thinking
We need to be sure we have enough evidence.
How much is enough? Imagine that you have heard
or read something that gives you doubts. What
evidence would remove your doubts?
 When using critical thinking, we must present all
arguments and we must present them fairly.
We have not used critical thinking if we ignore or
misrepresent views that disagree with us.