ABSTRACT
Our attempts to engage in critical thinking are sometimes frustrating. Often, even when we feel certain that there is something wrong with an argument, we find it hard to explain exactly what it is that’s wrong with it. Sometimes this is frustration with ourselves; but it can easily look like frustration with the person giving the argument (it can certainly be interpreted as such by that person!). One of the primary aims of training in critical thinking is to learn concepts and techniques that will help us to express clearly what is wrong with an argument, thereby dispelling that frustration. By helping us to assess arguments more efficiently, this helps us in the pursuit of truth. But also, by becoming more articulate in our criticisms, we become less frustrated, and thereby less bad-tempered. This can help to smooth out our relationships with other people (whereas you might have thought that improving your skill at critical thinking would make you into a disagreeable quibbler).
