Every TED Talk begins with curiosity and the courage to question ideas. That same curiosity drives people to explore, analyse, and create change. So, what is critical thinking? It’s the skill of questioning information, identifying assumptions, and forming reasoned judgments based on evidence.

At Immerse Education’s TED Summer School, you’ll experience this mindset through workshops, discussions, and talks inspired by the TED approach to learning and expression.

This article will help you understand how TED speakers use critical thinking to shape their talks, and how you can apply those same techniques to your learning, leadership, and life.

Understanding the Meaning of Critical Thinking

Critical thinking means analysing ideas deeply and testing them against reason and evidence. It moves you beyond memorisation toward meaningful understanding.

You learn to ask:

  • What evidence supports this claim?
  • What assumptions might I be missing?
  • How could someone else interpret this differently?

At our Philosophy Summer School, you explore these questions by studying thinkers like Socrates, Descartes, and Nietzsche. Each session builds your ability to reason, debate, and connect ideas. You’ll study ethics, metaphysics, and logic, learning to examine arguments from multiple viewpoints.

This programme traces philosophy’s journey from its roots in ancient Greece to modern thought. You begin with the Presocratics, who sought natural explanations for the world. 

Then you move to Plato and Aristotle, who shaped concepts of justice, logic, and the nature of knowledge. Later sessions explore Kant’s critique of reason, Rousseau’s vision of liberty, and Sartre’s ideas of freedom.

Every programme includes a Personal Project, where you research a question and present your conclusions to peers. You receive tutor feedback that helps you reflect on your reasoning and expression. This mirrors TED’s emphasis on clear, structured thinking and reflection.

Together, these experiences show that critical thinking is not about having all the answers but about asking better questions.

How TED Speakers Demonstrate Critical Thinking

The lights rise, and silence hangs in the air. A speaker steps forward, holding nothing but an idea. For a few seconds, they just look at the audience, waiting. Curiosity builds before a single word is spoken.

Through reasoning, reflection, and curiosity, TED speakers turn ideas into discoveries. They do not lecture. They explore.

Then the question comes, simple, direct, and impossible to ignore. It is not about giving answers but about drawing people into discovery. That is what TED speakers do best. They think out loud, letting logic, emotion, and imagination unfold in real time.

Hans Rosling turned data into stories that danced across the screen, challenging how we see the world. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie shared stories that broke assumptions wide open, proving that empathy can reveal truth as powerfully as evidence can.

Each talk is an act of reasoning in motion. The speaker questions, tests, and adapts as they speak, inviting the audience to think with them. Logic meets imagination, and curiosity drives both.

Critical thinking here is not quiet analysis. It is connection made visible. TED speakers show that questioning is not the end of understanding; it is where it begins.

Philosophy

Online

Through guided personal research, participants will engage in...

Online Research Programme
Provides subject study and academic research project development. Suitable for students looking to enhance academic research and writing skills.
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Ages: 13-18

Law

In-person

Explore Law in London and build necessary skills...

Academic Insights
Provides a thorough introduction to diverse academic fields. Ideal for students beginning to contemplate their future academic paths and eager to explore various disciplines.
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Ages: 15-18

4 Ways Students Can Build Critical Thinking Skills

Here are four ways to strengthen your critical thinking, each practised daily at Immerse Education’s TED Summer School.

1. Ask Meaningful Questions

Curiosity is where critical thinking begins. The best thinkers do not wait for answers; they look for better questions.

When learning something new, pause and look deeper. Ask what assumptions shape the idea and whose perspectives might be missing.

This approach reflects the Socratic method, where dialogue leads to discovery. At Immerse Education’s Philosophy Summer School, students use discussion and debate to test ideas from different angles, learning that real understanding comes from exploring every side of an issue.

Asking questions is not uncertainty. It is curiosity in action, the first step towards deeper insight.

2. Evaluate Evidence Before Deciding

Every strong thinker begins by asking one question: Is this true?

In Why Fact-Checking Is Important, journalist Nicolas Niarchos explains that truth takes effort. It is not about scrolling for answers but about testing what you see.

At The New Yorker, where he worked, every line was verified, every quote rechecked, every source called. Even small errors can change how people understand the world.

You can do the same. Before forming an opinion, check the evidence. Ask who benefits from the claim, what proof supports it, and whether other perspectives agree. Fact-checking is not cynicism. It is clarity. It builds the habit of questioning confidently, not endlessly.

3. Reflect on Different Perspectives

Critical thinking is not only about logic; it is also about empathy. Understanding another person’s viewpoint helps you see the limits of your own and think more clearly.

Throughout history, great thinkers have shown how reason and empathy work together. Plato and Aristotle disagreed on whether truth comes from ideals or observation. Descartes and Hume debated whether knowledge begins with reason or experience. Rousseau and Nietzsche argued about freedom, one linking it to social responsibility, the other to individual strength.

These disagreements were not just clashes of logic but exercises in understanding. Each philosopher had to listen, interpret, and respond, skills that demand empathy as much as intellect.

When you approach an opposing view with curiosity instead of judgment, you sharpen your mind and open your perspective. True critical thinking begins there, where understanding and compassion meet.

4. Practise Open Discussion

Every great idea grows stronger when it’s shared. When you talk through your thoughts, you learn to organise them, challenge them, and see them from new angles.

At the TED Summer School, you’ll experience this first-hand. Each discussion invites you to express your ideas clearly and listen with empathy. You’ll question assumptions, respond thoughtfully, and learn how collaboration sharpens understanding.

Speaking and listening work together. When you explain an idea, you clarify it. When you listen, you stretch your perspective and build respect for other viewpoints. Both are essential parts of critical thinking.

Through open discussion, you discover that communication is not about winning an argument but about exploring ideas together. The more you practise, the more confident you become in expressing your thoughts and engaging with others meaningfully.

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How to Apply Critical Thinking in Everyday Life

Critical thinking isn’t just for essays or debates. You use it every day, often without realising it. When you apply this skill in daily life, you make choices that are more thoughtful, logical, and confident.

Here’s how you can put it into practice:

  • In conversations: Listen before reacting. Ask questions to understand, not just to respond.
  • In media: Analyse headlines and verify sources before forming opinions.
  • In problem-solving: Break complex issues into smaller parts, look for patterns, and test possible solutions.
  • In decision-making: Weigh evidence and consider consequences before making a choice.

Example: When reading about a new technology or global issue, ask yourself: “Who benefits from this?” and “What assumptions are being made?” These questions help you move beyond surface-level information and form balanced, informed opinions.

Why Critical Thinking Matters Beyond the Classroom

Critical thinking is one of the most valuable skills you can develop. It prepares you for success at university, in your future career, and in leadership. 

When you think critically, you do more than remember facts; you question them, connect them, and use them to make sound, reasoned decisions.

In education, critical thinking helps you:

  • Tackle complex problems: You learn to analyse questions from multiple angles, build strong arguments, and identify assumptions behind them.
  • Engage in meaningful discussion: In essays, interviews, and seminars, you respond thoughtfully rather than reactively, showing confidence and understanding.
  • Think independently: Instead of memorising information, you evaluate evidence, compare perspectives, and form balanced conclusions.

In professional life, it equips you to:

  • Adapt to new challenges: Whether managing a project, conducting research, or solving ethical dilemmas, critical thinking helps you analyse situations clearly and act with purpose.
  • Balance creativity with logic: You learn to innovate responsibly, combining imagination with reason to make a lasting impact.
  • Lead with empathy and evidence: Strong leaders use critical thinking to understand others, evaluate outcomes, and communicate ideas with confidence.

At Immerse Education, our Philosophy Summer School is where critical thinking comes alive. Guided by expert tutors from top universities, you’ll explore topics like ethics, metaphysics, and logic through discussion and debate. 

Small classes of around seven students create the perfect setting to question ideas, test arguments, and think independently, skills that build confident thinkers and communicators.

You’ll complete a personal research project that lets you explore a topic you’re passionate about and present your conclusions with clarity. This process reflects how TED speakers turn complex ideas into stories that inspire change.

By understanding what critical thinking is, you’ll learn to apply philosophy beyond the classroom. Questioning deeply, reasoning clearly, and thinking courageously about the world around you.

Becoming a Reflective Thinker with TED × Immerse

When you develop critical thinking, you gain perspective, creativity, and confidence.

At Immerse Education, our TED × Immerse collaboration helps you explore what is critical thinking in action. You’ll learn to analyse ideas, communicate them clearly, and turn them into impact. Lessons come to life through workshops, mentoring, and discussion.

Through our TED Summer School and Philosophy Summer School, you’ll discover what it means to think critically, speak thoughtfully, and explore boldly. You’ll question, reason, and reflect like TED speakers who inspire change.

Your journey toward critical thinking begins with one question. What idea will you challenge next?