00:17 but others have a larger impact on our lives. 00:19 For example, which politician should I vote for? 00:22 Should I try the latest diet craze? 00:24 Or will email make me a millionaire? 00:27 We're bombarded with so many decisions 00:30 that it's impossible to make a perfect choice every time. 00:33 But there are many ways to improve our chances, 00:36 and one particularly effective technique is critical thinking. 00:40 This is a way of approaching a question 00:42 that allows us to carefully deconstruct a situation, 00:45 reveal its hidden issues, such as bias and manipulation, 00:48 and make the best decision. 00:51 If the critical part sounds negative that's because in a way it is. 00:56 Rather than choosing an answer because it feels right, 00:58 a person who uses critical thinking 01:00 subjects all available options to scrutiny and skepticism. 01:05 Using the tools at their disposal, 01:06 they'll eliminate everything but the most useful and reliable information. 01:11 There are many different ways of approaching critical thinking, 01:15 but here's one five-step process 01:17 that may help you solve any number of problems. 01:21 One: formulate your question. 01:23 In other words, know what you're looking for. 01:26 This isn't always as straightforward as it sounds. 01:29 For example, if you're deciding whether to try out the newest diet craze, 01:33 your reasons for doing so may be obscured by other factors, 01:37 like claims that you'll see results in just two weeks. 01:40 But if you approach the situation 01:42 with a clear view of what you're actually trying to accomplish by dieting, 01:46 whether that's weight loss, 01:48 better nutrition, 01:49 or having more energy, 01:50 that'll equip you to sift through this information critically, 01:54 find what you're looking for, 01:55 and decide whether the new fad really suits your needs. 02:00 Two: gather your information. 02:03 There's lots of it out there, 02:05 so having a clear idea of your question will help you determine what's relevant. 02:09 If you're trying to decide on a diet to improve your nutrition, 02:12 you may ask an expert for their advice, 02:14 or seek other people's testimonies. 02:16 Information gathering helps you weigh different options, 02:19 moving you closer to a decision that meets your goal. 02:23 Three: apply the information, 02:25 something you do by asking critical questions. 02:29 Facing a decision, ask yourself, "What concepts are at work?" 02:32 "What assumptions exist?" 02:34 "Is my interpretation of the information logically sound?" 02:38 For example, in an email that promises you millions, 02:41 you should consider, "What is shaping my approach to this situation?" 02:45 "Do I assume the sender is telling the truth?" 02:48 "Based on the evidence, is it logical to assume I'll win any money?" 02:54 Four: consider the implications. 02:56 Imagine it's election time, 02:58 and you've selected a political candidate based on their promise 03:01 to make it cheaper for drivers to fill up on gas. 03:04 At first glance, that seems great. 03:06 But what about the long-term environmental effects? 03:09 If gasoline use is less restricted by cost, 03:12 this could also cause a huge surge in air pollution, 03:16 an unintended consequence that's important to think about. 03:20 Five: explore other points of view. 03:23 Ask yourself why so many people are drawn 03:26 to the policies of the opposing political candidate. 03:29 Even if you disagree with everything that candidate says, 03:32 exploring the full spectrum of viewpoints 03:34 might explain why some policies that don't seem valid to you appeal to others. 03:40 This will allow you to explore alternatives, 03:42 evaluate your own choices, 03:44 and ultimately help you make more informed decisions. 03:48 This five-step process is just one tool, 03:51 and it certainly won't eradicate difficult decisions from our lives. 03:55 But it can help us increase the number of positive choices we make. 04:00 Critical thinking can give us the tools to sift through a sea of information 04:04 and find what we're looking for. 04:06 And if enough of us use it, 04:07 it has the power to make the world a more reasonable place.