Creatively and Critically Challenging Assumptions

Critical thinking and creative thinking are two related and yet distinct constructs. The core connection is they both start by challenging assumptions. After all, assumptions are simply the implicit starting point of our reasoning process, and starting points can and often do lead us astray and prevent us from solving important and difficult problems (just think of the 9-dot problem). People who can reflect on their assumptions (meta-cognition) and can see the invisible starting points, are more likely to come up with new assumptions, which lead to novel and original and meaningful (creative) solutions to a problem. In addition, the flip-side to critical thinking is conspiratorial, gullible, anti-evidence-based thinking that is ubiquitous in politics and online conversations. In this chapter, I raise and try to answer two basic questions: First, are creative thinkers critical thinkers and are critical thinkers creative thinkers? Second, how can fostering critical and creative thinking mitigate the trend toward non-rational, polarized, public conversation?