General Education and Critical Thinking |
Tae-Young Kim |
교양교육과 비판적 사고 |
김태영 |
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Abstract |
The purpose of this paper is to answer the question “How can critical thinking contribute general education? ”. For this purpose, I need to the additional question “What is general education? ”. Because I can explain how critical thinking contributes general education, only if I can define general education exactly.
I understand that general education consists of two parts, public part and personal part. Goal of general education is to educate student to be a citizen in public part, and to improve life of human being in personal part. To educate student to be a citizen means to prepare sound and right quality in democratic society. To improve life of human being means to develop humanity and to liberate human being.
Critical thinking is divided into critical thinking skill and critical thinking disposition. Critical thinking skill education improves ability to thinking. And critical thinking disposition education changes attitude or bearing. In the two educations, goal of general education corresponds to critical thinking disposition education only. Because critical thinking disposition education contributes sound citizenship and development of human being. But critical thinking skill education do not contribute goal of general education directly. Critical thinking skill education merely has meaning to form the basis of critical thinking disposition.
In the context, I think that critical thinking can contribute general education. Especially, improvement of critical thinking disposition is important to contribute general education. Therefore, I think that we should emphasis critical thinking disposition education rather than critical thinking skill education. |
Key Words:
General Education, Liberal Education, Critical Thinking, Critical Thinking Education, Critical Thinking Skill, Critical Thinking Disposition |
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