On critical thinking

 Use of the term ‘critical thinking’ to describe an educational goal goes back to the American philosopher John Dewey (1910), who more commonly called it ‘reflective thinking’. He defined it as

active, persistent and careful consideration of any belief or supposed form of knowledge in the light of the grounds that support it, and the further conclusions to which it tends. (Dewey 1910: 6; 1933: 9)

what is not critical thinking 

Immediate acceptance of an idea that suggests itself as a solution to a problem (e.g., a possible explanation of an event or phenomenon, an action that seems likely to produce a desired result) is “uncritical thinking, the minimum of reflection” (Dewey 1910: 13).

 On-going suspension of judgment in the light of doubt about a possible solution is not critical thinking (Dewey 1910: 108). 

Critique driven by a dogmatically held political or religious ideology is not critical thinking; 

 Derivation of a conclusion from given data using an algorithm is not critical thinking