Argumentation

Abstract

Critical thinking enables us to ensure that we have good reasons to believe or do what people attempt to persuade us to do or to believe. When the question why? is involved, we look for a reason for doing an activity, or for believing what we believe. Trying to persuade somebody else by providing good reasons is to give an argument. In some respects, an argument is an alternative term for critical thinking. But it should be noted that the latter has more and broader elements, in that the process of argumentation is part of the processes of critical thinking. There are also some important differences between making an argument and thinking critically. There is a sense that one argues for a specific purpose, perhaps to “win a point,” while critical thinking emphasizes “good processing” of evidence.