Sharon Bailin is a contemporary Canadian philosopher of education at Simon Fraser University, specializing in critical thinking, creativity, and argumentation theory. She is best known for her work challenging individualist and process-based conceptions of creativity and critical thinking, arguing instead for achievement-based and standards-governed accounts. Her scholarship has significantly influenced philosophy of education and critical thinking pedagogy.
Developed an achievement-based account of creativity, arguing creativity is defined by meeting standards of excellence rather than novelty alone
Co-authored influential critical thinking frameworks emphasizing intellectual standards and intellectual character
Critiqued McPeck's subject-specificity thesis, defending the existence of general critical thinking skills
Co-developed the 'Reasonable Wise Person' standard for critical thinking assessment
Authored 'Achieving Extraordinary Ends: An Essay on Creativity' (1988)