A STUDY OF THE CONCEPTUAL FIELD OF THE CATEGORY “CRITICAL THINKING OF FUTURE SPECIALISTS” IN CONTEMPORARY SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE

Abstract

The article examines the concept of the development of critical thinking as a pedagogical phenomenon: from the accumulation of formal knowledge to the ability to justify and assess the possible consequences of decisions made. The author emphasises that the modern educational paradigm is increasingly focused on unlocking the personal potential of the learner, developing the capacity for non-conventional analysis and fostering an autonomous, flexible perception of reality. Therefore, critical thinking can overcome the limitations of the traditional approach to learning, dismantle stereotypical models of action and facilitate movement beyond standardised intellectual frameworks. In this context, particular importance is attached to the combination of critical thinking with creativity – complementary competences that ensure an individual’s effective adaptation to the complex and unpredictable conditions of the modern world.
The article notes that the critical thinking of future specialists should be considered not as an abstract intellectual quality, but as a clearly defined ability to analyse information, evaluate argumentation, identify alternative approaches and justify professional decisions responsibly.
The author stresses that critical thinking should not be treated as a formally declared competence or a set of discrete intellectual techniques, as it is an established cultural phenomenon of reasoned judgement and responsible choice. Critical thinking manifests itself when the learner not only analyses information, but also consciously monitors the logic of their own reasoning, checks assumptions, compares alternative positions and formulates conclusions based on evidence and taking into account possible consequences.
The article states that critical thinking of future specialists should be interpreted as a culture of informed judgement and responsible choice. This becomes possible when a future professional not only analyses information, but also consciously tracks the logic of the reasoning, finds weaknesses in the argument, checks assumptions, compares alternative positions and formulates conclusions based on evidence.

Received: November 26, 2025
Accepted: December 12, 2025
Published: January 16, 2026