Conclusion

Critical thinking requires evaluating evidence, distinguishing fact from opinion, determining whether cause and effect are established, and identifying logical flaws even when they lead to conclusions that clash with fashionable dogmas (Boghossian 2006) or personal beliefs. The six criteria suggested can reduce politicization of theory and provide a comprehensive, systematic, and objective approach to judging whether theories increase understanding and help us make better decisions or develop better methods for managing conflicts. They can help us to identify attempts to impose social or political agendas under the guise of science. Finally, they can help us to identify weaknesses in our own work and to overcome any propensities that we may have for self-deception.