Question

Why does C. Wright Mills identify Critical Thinking as one of the most important criteria for the development of intellectual craftsmanship? Why is constantly being aware of the biased nature of your reactions and interactions (What C. Wright Mills calls Self-Reflexive) key to the development of that Critical Thinking? Finally, why is keeping a file important, how can it lean to intellectual curiosity which can foster critical thinking and help to develop a keen analytical mind?

Answer 1

This concept of critical thinking and especially the idea of intellectual craftmanship was thoroughly analyzed by C. Wright Mills in his book, The Social Imagination, published in 1959. In it, Mills expounds on the correct process for a student to undertake the process of creating a project in which both the thinking, creative and writing processes will take place. He literally guides the students, using his own experiences as a sociological researcher, on the step-by-step process that they need to follow to become successful both as researchers and writers. 1. Mills states in his document that critical thinking is vital to the process of research and writing because it allows a professional to sift through all the data, including his/her own experiences, thought process and knowledge, in such a way that will make his/her final product interesting, readable and a true research project that answers true analytical and intellectual questions. He speaks about the process of research and writing in sociology exactly as a craft, it has a series of steps that need to be follow for the process to be perfect, but the most important things are: imagination, creation, processing of information, personal experiences and life and finally, the product itself. 2. Being aware of the biased nature of reactions and interactions, according to Mills, is important because it allows you to understand all the factors that play a part in the research and creation process. It allows the researcher to put everything in a proper order so that all can be used in favor of the final result. The analytical mind does this always in order to understand everything around it better. 3. Keeping a file, or journal as it is mentioned by Mills, is important because it allows you to put into writing ideas and concepts that are within you, that come from your intellect and creativity rather than outside sources and allows you to discover fountains of ideas that might lead to great research problems and products. This process allows the analytical mind to look into its own devices first and be creative and imaginative, rather than depending on the products of others.