<P> Critical thinking is the objective analysis of facts to form a judgment . The subject is complex, and there are several different definitions which generally include the rational, skeptical, unbiased analysis or evaluation of factual evidence . </P> <P> Critical thinking was described by Richard W. Paul as a movement in two waves (1994). The "first wave" of critical thinking is often referred to as a' critical analysis' that is clear, rational thinking involving critique . Its details vary amongst those who define it . According to Barry K. Beyer (1995), critical thinking means making clear, reasoned judgments . During the process of critical thinking, ideas should be reasoned, well thought out, and judged . The U.S. National Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking defines critical thinking as the "intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action ." </P> <P> In the term critical thinking, the word critical, (Grk . κριτικός = kritikos = "critic") derives from the word critic and implies a critique; it identifies the intellectual capacity and the means "of judging", "of judgement", "for judging", and of being "able to discern". </P>

Where did the concept of critical thinking originate