Abstract
The nature that critical thinking (must) have depends on the individual’s epistemological stance. That is, the focal point to be critical is epistmic judgment about origin of knowing, limiting the scope of critical thinking by itself in concordance with their own epistemological stance. This paper provides a framework to capture critical thinking adequately in accordance with personal epistemology (i.e., individuals’ beliefs about the nature of knowledge and knowing). From the viewpoint of rewarding life, the current paper points out neglected 3 aspects of existing critical thinking conceptions which usually based on absolutism: (1) interrelationships between objection and subjection, or theory and self, (2) emergent critical thinking through interactions with others or circumstance, and (3) possibility of instrumental use of critical thinking along with the situational demands. This is the critical thinking as cognitive tools used for different purposes; absolutist’s choice which fact is correct or incorrect in their representation of reality as well as evaluativist’s responsible judgment and decision according to criteria of argument and evidence.
