The Need for Critical Thinking and the Scientific Method

"A crucial change in the evolution of science has been the transition from dogmatic thinking to critical thinking. In simple terms, dogmatic thinking involves looking for confirmation of a theory whereas critical thinking is open to observations that do not agree with a given theory. A scientist who uses critical thinking forms opinions, but these are not held rigidly and can be changed or modified by new observations or rational arguments. This book exposes many of the misunderstandings about the scientific method and its application to critical thinking. It argues for a better understanding of the scientific method and for nurturing critical thinking in the community. This knowledge helps the reader to analyze issues more objectively, and warns about the dangers of bias and propaganda."--Page 4 of cover.