At Foundation for Change we believe that to truly understand ourselves, we need to explore who we are in relation to our environments, and the people within them. This means looking at the world around us, looking at ourselves, and connecting our own and other peoples experiences to systems of power, inequality and the impacts of trauma. It also means placing our lives within the wider context of our family, our community, and our social, cultural, and political history. Easy right?!

Essential to this process, is the ability to think critically and systemically - two skills that we introduce and practise within all our courses, and which are embedded throughout our whole approach at FfC.

But what is critical and systemic thinking?

The term ‘critical thinking’ describes the ability to think clearly and rationally, whilst keeping an open mind. It is the process of questioning, and considering different pieces of information, such as facts, evidence, and observations, to help reach a decision or bring further clarity and understanding to a thought, feeling, experience or situation. Thinking critically is different to “being critical”, it is about weighing up all the information available – the positive and the constructive.

Systemic thinking describes a way of thinking that considers the overall wider system, as well as its individual parts. This process helps us to see the relationships between different parts of a system and how changes to one part can affect the others. Thinking systemically is an important way to understand and ‘read the world’, to see how difficult experiences in our lives are not just about us as individuals, but are connected to the world we live in.

"Critical and systemic thinking are skills that we can and need to learn, and are key to reading the world, our own worlds and transforming them for the better."

Why are they important?

Around the world, for many people, day-to-day life can be an ongoing struggle - often for their very survival. The world also seems to be moving at an increasingly faster pace, where we have access to more information than ever, that is often unclear, conflicting, polarising and overwhelming.

Within this distress and chaos, it’s natural for people to want to make sense of what they’re experiencing and witnessing, which can often mean looking for someone or something to blame. And when we have political and media platforms ready and willing to pit us against each other, it’s clear how easy it is to fight amongst ourselves, rather than notice our shared struggles and look to hold wider political, social and economic systems to account.

In a world rife with oppression, systemic biases, and inequities, critical thinking enables us to recognise power dynamics and the ways they shape societal norms and values. It serves as a powerful tool to identify oppressive ideologies and practices, see the ways they interconnect, challenge the status quo, dismantle oppressive systems, and empower marginalised voices.

It is an essential skill that expands and broadens our understanding by allowing us to pause, and develop the ability to think clearly, rationally and independently. Through the process of questioning assumptions, recognising biases, evaluating facts and evidence, we can form more rounded, and accurate opinions, which in turn, deepens our capacity for empathy and helps us to make well-reasoned decisions.

In our day-to-day, critical thinking supports us to:

• Approach problems methodically, considering various solutions and their effectiveness.
• Distinguish between reliable and unreliable information.
• Evaluate the pros and cons and consider potential consequences, within any given
  situation.
• Consider other people’s experiences and perspectives, alongside our own, holding that
  more than one thing can be true at the same time’.
• Form our own opinions and beliefs, rather than simply accepting those of others.

A process and practise that, overall, enables us to find our voice, connect to our own values and beliefs, and develop an accurate and compassionate perception of ourselves, others and the world around us.

Empowerment through Critical and Systemic Thinking

Our approach to learning at FfC is greatly influenced by Paolo Freire’s work, who believed that education should go beyond the mere transfer of knowledge, and instead empower individuals to critically engage with their social and political world.

Within this approach, people are encouraged to be active in their own learning, to think, question, discuss, consider, and reflect on information they are given - not solely accepting it at face value.

This process, known as developing critical consciousness, enables us to recognise oppression, have language to name our experiences, and use our voice to challenge injustice, and advocate for change within our own lives, and the lives of others.

So how do we develop critical thinking and consciousness?

1. Ask Questions: Be curious. Whenever you come across new information, ask questions like “What is the source of this information?”, “Is this information reliable?”, and “What evidence supports this claim?”.
2. Analyse Arguments: Break down arguments into their basic components. Identify the main claim, supporting evidence, and any assumptions. Evaluate whether the evidence logically supports the claim.
3. Recognise Biases: Everyone has biases, including yourself. Be aware of them and consider how they might affect your judgement. Also, recognise biases in the information you consume.
4. Consider Multiple Perspectives: Don’t just stick to one viewpoint. Look at issues from different angles and consider alternative explanations or solutions.
5. Reflect on Your Thinking: Take time to think about how you think. Are there any patterns or habits in your thinking that could be improved? Reflect on your decisions and the thought processes behind them.

Critical and systemic thinking are skills that we can and need to learn, and are key to reading the world, our own worlds and transforming them for the better. By giving ourselves time, and consistently practising it in various aspects of life, we become more adept at making sound decisions, understanding complex issues, and navigating the world more effectively.

So, what are you waiting for?