우리는 비판적 사고를 요구하는 시대에 살고 있다. 글로벌한 시장, 전자 대중매체의 확산, 무한 경쟁의 시대에서 비판적 사고는 살아남기 위한 전략이다. 비판적 사고란 자신의 주장에 대한 근거와 이유를 제시하는 논증적 사고를 말한다. 훌륭한 논증을 제시함으로써 자신의 주장의 옮음을 정당화하는 것이 비판적 사고의 목적이다. 그러나 필자는 비판적 사고가 훌륭한 논증을 구성하는 것만으로는 부족하다고 생각한다. 비판적 사고의 반성적 의미가 더 확대되어야 한다고 생각한다. 왜냐하면, 우리 시대의 다양한 갈등들을 해소하기 위해서는 자신의 주장의 옮음을 정당화하는 것만으로는 역부족이기 때문이다. 주장의 옮음과 함께 타자와의 공감의 형성도 필요하다. 공감의 형성을 통한 타자와의 의사소통을 위해서는 반성적 사고가 필요하다. 그리고 이러한 반성적 사고를 잘 보여주는 것이 칸트철학이다. 따라서 칸트의 비판철학을 통해 반성적 사고로서의 비판적 사고의 의미를 밝히는 것이 이 논문의 목적이다. 칸트는 자기시대의 위기를 극복하는 방법으로 비판적 사고를 제시하였고, 비판을 인식의 영역뿐만 아니라 도덕이나 예술의 기초를 확립하는 데에도 적용하고 있다. 특히 『판단력비판』에서의 반성적 판단력과 공통감은 필자의 의도를 잘 드러내주는 핵심부분이다. 칸트의 공통감은 우리가 다른 사람의 입장에 바꿔 서봄으로써 보편적인 입장에서 자기 자신의 판단을 반성하게 하여 사적 판단의 주관적 조건들을 넘어서게 한다. 공통감은 우리를 공동체 안에서 함께 살아가는데 적합하도록 만들어 주며, 이것은 사람들 사이에 의사소통을 가능하게 해준다. 합리성만을 추구하는 현대의 비판적 사고로는 부족하다. 진정한 비판이란 존재와 세계에 대한 반성으로서의 비판이어야 할 것이다.
We live in a world that demands critical thinking. In the time of Global markets, expansion of the electronic mass media and competition without limits, critical thinking should be one of our main strategies for survival. Critical thinking is considered to be the argumentation of reasons and evidence for one’s claims. The goal of critical thinking is the justification of the truth for one’s claims through the presentation of valid arguments. Nevertheless, I am not convinced that the formation of valid arguments is enough for critical thinking. It is my belief that the meaning of critical thinking should be reconsidered. The reason is that the justification of the truth for one’s claims is not essential for the settlement of the various conflicts of our times. Critical thinking requires empathy for other people as well as the truth of one’s claims. Reflective thinking should be a requisite for the purpose of communication with other people with regard to the formation of empathy. Kant’s philosophy shows us the model for this reflective thinking. In this article I focus on clarifying the meaning of reflective thinking through the means of Kant’s critical philosophy. Kant established critical thinking as the method of overcoming the crises of his time. He applied this method not only to epistemology but also to the bases of morality and the arts. The concepts of reflective judgment and common sense in the Critique of Judgment are, in particular, essential parts of my arguments. Kant’s concept of common sense plays an important role in overcoming the subjective conditions of the individual judgments. It leads us to change our personal positions with each other in order to obtain the reflection of one’s judgment within the universal view points. The notion of the common sense enables us to live together in the same communities and makes it possible for us to communicate with other people. The modern critical thinking which seeks rationality is not appropriate for the understanding of human nature. It is the true critical thinking that should be the reflection of the universe and its beings.
We live in a world that demands critical thinking. In the time of Global markets, expansion of the electronic mass media and competition without limits, critical thinking should be one of our main strategies for survival. Critical thinking is considered to be the argumentation of reasons and evidence for one’s claims. The goal of critical thinking is the justification of the truth for one’s claims through the presentation of valid arguments. Nevertheless, I am not convinced that the formation of valid arguments is enough for critical thinking. It is my belief that the meaning of critical thinking should be reconsidered. The reason is that the justification of the truth for one’s claims is not essential for the settlement of the various conflicts of our times. Critical thinking requires empathy for other people as well as the truth of one’s claims. Reflective thinking should be a requisite for the purpose of communication with other people with regard to the formation of empathy. Kant’s philosophy shows us the model for this reflective thinking. In this article I focus on clarifying the meaning of reflective thinking through the means of Kant’s critical philosophy. Kant established critical thinking as the method of overcoming the crises of his time. He applied this method not only to epistemology but also to the bases of morality and the arts. The concepts of reflective judgment and common sense in the Critique of Judgment are, in particular, essential parts of my arguments. Kant’s concept of common sense plays an important role in overcoming the subjective conditions of the individual judgments. It leads us to change our personal positions with each other in order to obtain the reflection of one’s judgment within the universal view points. The notion of the common sense enables us to live together in the same communities and makes it possible for us to communicate with other people. The modern critical thinking which seeks rationality is not appropriate for the understanding of human nature. It is the true critical thinking that should be the reflection of the universe and its beings.
