"Critical thinking is the formation of logical inferences"- Simon and Kapplan, 1989. I think this definition applies to hypertext because in designing a webpage, determining which links are the most important, and how to put them together, one is certainly forming logical inferences (what leads to what? how are they connected?). For example, in my own website, I was conflicted on how to arrange my pages-- should I include the physical abuse and the psychological abuse of workers on the same page? What about the psychological abuse and the effects of that abuse on the workers self esteem? In addition, when you read about cases of extraordinary abuse, you then are faced with the question, why aren't people responding better to help end these sweatshops? Once you think about that, you realize that it may be due to the fact that there is still a great deal of classism, racism, and anit immigrant sentiments in America. Stringing these connections together is my definition of critical thinking.
Another definition that strikes me is: "The purpose of critical thinking is, therefore, to achieve understanding, evaluate view points, and solve problems." In my own website making experience, I realized that the first task was to gain knowledge about whichever subject I was discussing. In the case of my hypertext essay 2, I am learning about garment workers, but also how global capitalism effects different groups of people so differently. Then, once you understand the situation, you can look at different perspectives, and see where people agree and disagree, and also which portion of the problem they chose to focus on. For example, some of my resources focused on the strides of the garment workers themselves, whereas others looked at the widening class and racial gaps within the Los Angeles garment industry. Only when you understand the problem and the view points can you even attempt to solve the problem. After you evaluate other people's viewpoints (some say that sweatshops are inevitable because of the high supply of immigrant labor) you make you own judgements (I would agrue that a large immigrant population is by no means a justification for treating people like dirt), and work on solving the problem.
3 comments:
I like the 2nd definition you used because I find that that quote is exactly what was expected out of our hypertexts.
I totally agree with the first quote. One of my biggest problems is connecting all my pages and decided where to put what information.
I totally agree with your statement that in order to think about something critically you must understand their viewpoint. I learned a lot about strippers in my project and their viewpoints and it totally changed my opinion of them.
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