Kayla Park

My Renaissance
BUS-1050

Throughout the course of this semester we have focused primarily on critical thinking
and have built off those ideas. I have since done reflection into my own life and seen which
readings have affected me the most. Critical thinking is the foundation of grasping a full
educated understanding in the world. Edward Engh wrote about critical thinking with emphasis
on type one and type two errors. In modern day society, it is important to have the ability to
recognize the difference within an individual of someone who makes errors due to lack of
knowledge or misunderstanding, or an individual who chooses to deny fact. With a full
understanding of what is reality in contrast of what is non-sense I have a began to understand
and interrupt situations differently from an analytical standpoint in my life. Because of this
newfound understanding I can identify mistakes I have made previously and continue forward
without making the same mistake again.
While critical thinking emphasizing the ability to detect errors it is equally as important
to grasp the definition of a scientific fact that has been proven and a theory. By understanding
the definition of fact, I have since understood the emphasis of empirical evidence in the
business world. By using empirical evidence, it gives rhetoric to an argument and thus making it
stronger. While it seems redundant to mention, it is important to emphasis because when in a
debate it is important to be able to identify empirical evidence rather than nonsense. Nonsense
can be used often to persuade in an argument when the opposite party does not have fact to
use in their argument. Science is self-correcting, although it can be questioned and is open to
change. While scientific fact is tested and proven and become theory it can still be questioned.
Charles Darwin was a pioneer in critical thinking and his theory of natural selection. In
natural selection it the theory that the strong will outlive the weak and furthermore will
continue to breed stronger each generation eliminating the weak. Personally, in a business
setting I have seen this in my workplace. Although I work with individuals who are formally
trained but do not apply themselves well, personally I have found success in my role while
others have struggled and eventually have quit or gone to other affairs. This is not the exact
natural selection theory since in a business world failure doesnt necessarily mean that one was
not able to successfully reproduce. This requires critical thinking when analyzing the theory to
translate it to business. This can also translate as certain skills or degrees that are no longer
needed in the field, or another type of experience or training preferred rather than what was
applied previously.
Edward Engh also wrote about the physics of business which emphasizes the perception
of individuals rather than what the real event was. To understand this process, you would need
to understand critical thinking beforehand. Another factor of this is what is valued in business.
In business morals and ethics drive an individual to their success or failure. Depending on what
is valued whether it is money, time with family or a PhD value is defined by what the individual
values in their life. If you asked me what I valued the first year of my undergrad I would tell you
sleep, which has since changed. The values are subject to change and unique to the individual.
Since attending college with intent of a masters, I value the quality of my learning and my
ability to retain information. Morals and ethics are defined by beliefs and are often shaped by
experiences in our lives. Engh also discusses the value of a business degree and why students
value not being required to take math classes. If students value not having upper division
Kayla Park
My Renaissance
BUS-1050

classes in math and science they may be more inclined to choose a business major. But Engh
emphasizes the error in the logic if wanting to go into business simply to get the highest paying
career, and emphasizes the individual choosing to block their own success. In my life, I have
found that we are our own worst critic and we place barriers up for ourselves unintentionally
every day if we are not aware of our fears. We should choose to go into business because it is
interesting or it the field that we would be successful in, not because some of the careers are
not math based but because we are confident in our capabilities. Someone who values critical
thinking should choose a career in business because the profession is strongly based out of it.