Thinking!  I bet a lot of you never "thought" about the different types of thinking.  However, many types and levels exist. Pondering, reasoning, reflecting, thinking, wondering - whatever word you choose to use - thinking is a complex issue.

As far as we know, human consciousness exists only in the brain - our minds. This consciousness expresses itself through:

• thought - it allows us to think on many levels and gain knowledge
• memory - it directs how we remember things
• perception - it directs how we perceive or interpret things
• feeling/emotion - it directs our feelings and emotions
• will - it directs our behavior
• imagination - it gives flight or failure to imagination

ALBERT EINSTEIN STATED:

• Imagination is more important than knowledge.  Knowledge is limited.  Imagination circles the world.
• We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.
• The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.
• Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.
• It's not that I'm so smart; it's just that I stay with problems longer.

According to Corey Lewis, Sociology Instructor at Owensboro Community and Technical College, at least three types of thinking exist: general thinking, critical thinking, and creative thinking.

• (GENERAL) THINKING - The mental process that primarily involves the development of thoughts and ideas in a conscious manner, purposefully using mental energy in a logical or illogical manner.
   

• CRITICAL THINKING -  The ability to judge and analyze information or ideas by narrowing your focus to the most relevant details. It is the mechanism used to help you become more aware of the value and need for a greater appreciation of individual differences. 

  According to Corey Lewis, critical thinking must follow the basic rule of thinking:  Emotions must follow logic in order to critically think.  He also lists three steps of thinking:

  • Observe - Gather factual information about any event, circumstance, or situation you plan to consider.

  • Interpret - Analyze the data in terms of what is taking place, why it is occurring, and how it affects the situation.

  • Conclude - Make the decision to use any new ideas gained from the information. Think creatively. Face the consequences, whether positive or negative.

  Richard Paul of the Critical Thinking Community states that with critical thinking you must first have a problem to solve.  If you have no problem to solve, you do not need to use critical thinking. However, when we read, watch TV, listen to someone or something, write, or speak - we must use critical thinking, such as asking who, what, where, why, when, how, and so what?  Therefore, any type of communication involves critical thinking.  Critical thinking also calls for creative thinking because we must step out of the box and look for new answers.  We must be curious enough and industrious enough to follow through with our inquiries.

  Sometimes, we have to ask ourselves, "What is the problem?"  We have to define it - ask ourselves how we could solve it; what would happen if we did that; what are the alternatives; and how we could solve it.
   

• CREATIVE THINKING - The ability to develop an original pattern of ideas or concepts that serve as a new solution to a problem by widening your scope to a variety of possibilities.