Abstract

Critical thinking is a fundamental component in the establishment of scientific truth. Conversely, design thinking has emerged as a popular methodology in contemporary contexts to enhance creativity, innovation and problem-solving capabilities. Scientists posit that design thinking can support critical thinking; however, there is an absence of empirical studies examining the relationship between these two models of thinking. This is primarily due to the lack of a detailed articulation of their common conceptual framework and the perception that they are independent of each other’s concepts. This study aims to address this issue by comparing the relationship between thought design and various properties of critical thinking, integrating their theoretical foundations into a philosophical context. The philosophical analysis of practical significance demonstrates that these apparent disparate ways of thinking have common features, but also diverge in significant ways. A detailed comparison of these two modes of thought suggests that thought design methods have the potential to support and complement traditional critical thinking practices, and that thought design structures can be modified to more explicitly include critical thinking.

Keywords: design thinking, critical thinking, philosophy, integrate design and critical
thinking skills.