《超越感觉-批判性思考指南》翻译--背景

任何人想要掌握一项技能，首先必须理解它的工具和规则。这对于批判性思考，就和对于打高尔夫球，做木工，开飞机，或者做脑部外科手术一样。但是，批判性思考的工具不是有形的物质对象，而是无形的概念，规则用于心理而不是身体表现。

第一部分涉及到7个重要的概念——个体，批判性思考，真相，知识，意见，证据，和争论——每个章节讲解一个概念。绝大多数这些概念你都很熟悉，你可能会感到奇怪，审视他们是否还有意义。答案是有意义，有3个理由。第一，很多对于这些概念的通常理解是错误的。第二，能够仔细审视它们的人常常获得新的洞察。第三，你关于这些概念的知识越全面，你的思考就越熟练精通。

原文：
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Anyone who wishes to master an activity must first understand its tools and rules. This is as true of critical thinking as it is of golf, carpentry, flying a plane, or brain surgery. In critical thinking, however, the tools are not material objects but concepts, and the rules govern mental rather than physical performance.

This first section explores seven important concepts—individuality, critical thinking, truth, knowledge, opinion, evidence, and argument— with a chapter devoted to each. Most of these concepts are so familiar that you may be inclined to wonder whether there is any point to examining them. The answer is yes, for three reasons. First, much of what is commonly believed about these concepts is mistaken. Second, who ever examines them carefully is always rewarded with fresh insights.
Third, the more thorough your knowledge of these concepts, the more proficient you will be in your thinking.