Welcome to Philosophy 152: Basics in Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing. “Critical” in this context does not refer simply to disapproving or finding fault. Rather, critical thinking involves making judgments (such as whether or not to believe a certain statement), analyzing qualities of passages, and evaluating comparative worth. As a reader, a critical stance enables you to assess implications and draw justifiable conclusions from materials you encounter. As a writer, you will develop effective methods for approaching, planning, and completing related writing assignments.