Introduction. Why critical thinking?; Stages of critical thinking development; A substantive approach to critical thinking; Critical thinkers routinely apply intellectual standards to the elements of reasoning; Three types of character -- The elements of thought. Questions using the elements of thought; A checklist for reasoning; The figuring mind -- Universal Intellectual Standards. Some essential intellectual standards for all human thought; Where do intellectual standards come from? -- Intellectual virtures of the fairminded critical thinker. Essential intellectual traits; How intellectual firtues are interrelated -- The spirit of critical thinking. Template for analyzing the logic of an article; Criteria for evaluating reasoning; A template for problem-solving; Analyzing and assessing research; Three kinds of questions; Three levels of thought -- The human minds is frequently irrational while having the capacity for rational thought. Humans often distort reality through irrational lenses; The problem of egocentric thinking; Feelings that accompany egocentrism; The problem of sociocentric thinking; Primary forms of sociocentric thought; Unethical pursuit of group agendas -- Envisioning Critical Societies. 20 barriers to critical societies.