There are very good videos from the Critical Thinker Academy, by Kevin deLaplante, on the importance and relevance of the study of critical thinking and reasoning for civic learning, democracy and citizenship at the Critical Thinker Podcast on YouTube. DeLaplante argues in the second video that education in critical thinking is needed for citizens in a liberal democracy to promote constructive, rational dialogue and argument about issues of public policy. Students should ask themselves: Is deLaplante right about this? And, if so, is the lack of education and practice in critical thinking a reason national debate of policy issues has become so contentious and polarised?
