An Effort to Improve Critical Thinking Skills through debate

 

Critical thinking is the ability to think rationally and systematically with the goal of understanding the relationship between ideas and facts. This skill helps us determine what we should believe. Critical thinking is an important skill, especially in facing the current era of knowledge and technological development, known as the 5.0 era. With this ability, we can analyze the truth of information we hear or read.

Robert Ennis, an American philosopher known for his work in critical thinking, states that critical thinking is reasonable and reflective thinking focused on deciding what to believe or do. Michael Scriven, a professor at Claremont Graduate University specializing in behavioral and organizational sciences, describes critical thinking as an intellectually disciplined process. This process involves actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information. This information can come from observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, and communication, and it is used to guide belief and action.

Simply put, critical thinking is the ability to think rationally and objectively about problems, so the results are unbiased and aligned with reality.

According to a report by We Are Social, the number of active social media users in Indonesia reached 139 million in January 2024. This number represents 49.9% of the country's population.

With so many social media users, the spread of hoaxes on various social media platforms is inevitable and can happen very quickly across the nation. Hoaxes, or misleading false information, have infiltrated various aspects of life, including religion, culture, society, economy, politics, and more.

The widespread dissemination of hoaxes has various negative impacts on society, ranging from creating confusion and uncertainty to causing serious social conflicts. Political hoaxes dominate the highest rank, reaching 88.60%, indicating that false information related to politics is the most prevalent and has the greatest potential to disrupt domestic political stability. Additionally, issues related to Ethnicity, Religion, Race, and Intergroup (SARA) are also frequently targeted by hoaxes, showing that false information not only touches on political aspects but also has the potential to incite tension among different social groups.

Critical thinking skills are crucial for analyzing, evaluating, and making decisions based on logic and evidence from available information. However, these skills are still in the lower category, necessitating efforts to improve them. One such effort is through the use of innovative learning methods that can enhance critical thinking skills, such as the debate method.

Critical thinking skills are considered more important in supporting the decision-making process than intelligence factors. These skills encompass not only cognitive abilities but also several dispositions such as being innovative, confident, open-minded, objective, and willing to seek the truth. Critical thinking can be applied, trained, and developed through structured and guided learning and assessment processes, requiring continuous and dedicated efforts.

Debate is an activity in which two or more parties discuss a particular topic or issue with the aim of conveying and defending their respective opinions. In a debate, each party tries to convince the other party that their opinion is the most correct or most reasonable.

They do this by providing strong arguments, using relevant evidence, and responding to the opposing side's arguments. Debates are usually held with certain rules and formats so that discussions remain orderly and fair. Apart from determining who is more convincing, debate also aims to train critical thinking skills, public speaking, as well as listening and understanding other people's points of view.

How is debate useful for critical thinking?

Debates have many benefits for enhancing critical thinking skills.

First, debates help participants develop their ability to analyze arguments. They must be able to identify the premises and conclusions in their opponent's arguments, evaluate the strengths and weaknesses, and detect biases and logical fallacies such as ad hominem or strawman.

Second, debates encourage problem-solving skills. Participants are required to understand and formulate the issues at the heart of the debate, generate various potential solutions, and weigh the pros and cons of each solution.

Third, debates strengthen the ability to develop logical arguments. Participants must construct strong premises, use valid and relevant evidence, and clearly demonstrate how these premises support the desired conclusion. These processes collectively train individuals to think critically, analyze information carefully, and make decisions based on strong logic and evidence.

Content Writter: Ripan Laksmana Putra