Looking for other submarines while not being detected takes some critical thinking – AND machinery that assists in the process.

When listening to the ocean, one doesn’t use headphones much anymore as Jonesie did in “Hunt For Red October.”

Instead, they look for “evidence” that something is out there that is not random noise.

A sonar printout or screen will show the ambient noise of the ocean that appears much as “snow” on a TV set.

IF something is man-made or is not just random, it will appear over time as a line as shown below.. That could or could not be another submarine.

However, one can be sure that it is not just random and it deserves analysis.

This means that the “evidence” – is hard fact and not just an assumption or invalid hypothesis or premise.

(This is the “information skill” in the Critical Skills.)

From this hard evidence, one can use the “analysis skill” and draw valid conclusions . . . .

• Is it a submarine?
• Is it a surface ship?
• Where is it?
• What direction is it going?
• How far is it away?

The capabilities nowadays go further than that – one can actually pinpoint not only what kind of ship it is, but exactly what ship it is.

The Information and Analysis skills are essential.

This is, of course, “Critical Thinking.” True hypotheses and premises based on FACT can lead to valid conclusions.

Assumptions do not work.