I would like to answer this interesting question grabbing a concept popularized by Eli Goldratt which is the inherent simplicity. The convergence of critical and creative thinking is given by the previous experience of the observer, in both cases, the thinking process is nurtured by it. Now the differences are framed in two temporal contexts. The critical thinking helps you to find the root cause of the problem by encountering the cause and effects relationships that allow you to see " the reality" of the situation under study. Now, creative thinking is the process that helps you to build a creative solution for the problem you already found.

Article Relationships between Critical and Creative Thinking

https://www.dphu.org/uploads/attachements/books/books_5798_0.pdf

http://search.proquest.com/openview/66bc072a93707c16e3b9e8431296ad64/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=47765

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/convergent-thinking

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/5565/439dfeff5618e53ef5060a4e3f48ef069092.pdf

https://www.researchgate.net/deref/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%2Feugene-fram%2Ffaculty-alert-why-are-emp_b_6527626.html

Article Developing the skills of critical and creative thinking by p...

Article Critical and Creative Thinking Nexus: Learning Experiences o...

Article What stands and develops between creative and critical think...

http://search.proquest.com/openview/837add040c909303ef2baa83e1653864/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=47765

https://www.jstor.org/stable/44429711

I think the link between them is realistic thinking

Convergence and differences Critical Thinking and Creative Thinking

Convergences

a. Both are thinking processes, processes of the mind

b. Both are search processes through analysis

c. Both are important for human development

Differences

a. Critical thinking is a search process of constant questioning, looking for differences, not accepting a status quo of a fact as it is, looking from different perspectives. Creativity is a processes of combination to come to something innovative, it is a process of composition.

b. The outcome for creative thinking is functionality: how something works or works better. For critical thinking to prove that something doesn't work as is supposed or as is told, is also a positive outcome.

c. Critical thinking uses logics, creative thinking is inherent a messy process, looking where people hasn't looked before, it is a constant process of the combination of divergent and convergent thinking.

d. Critical thinking is more part of creative thinking than otherwise.

Rui Marques Vieira Rudi Darson Yousif Yaqoob Yousif Cristian Ramos-Vera

Creativity uses imagination to connect previously unrelated phenomena into a new whole, that is novel and useful. Critical think uses logic to evaluate novel ideas ideas.

I think this question end up in binary thinking about either creativity or critical thinking. The imagination that produces divergent thinking also needs the discipline to be more convergent. The rigorous rational argumentation is only a part of critical thinking which also needs to leave room for intuitive and out of the box leaps. We've tried to bring these together in our five dimensional model of creative thinking:

Article A Five Dimensional Model of Creativity and its Assessment in Schools

Other studies and documents on this issue:

- https://www.oecd.org/education/fostering-students-creativity-and-critical-thinking-62212c37-en.htm

http://repositorio.minedu.gob.pe/bitstream/handle/123456789/2529/21st%20Century%20Skills%20and%20Competences%20for%20New%20Millennium%20Learners%20in%20OECD%20Countries.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

- https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED407059

Dear Dr. Rui Marques Vieira ,

Plesae see this information:

Creative Thinking vs Critical Thinking

Creative Thinking and Critical Thinking are two expressions that show the difference between them when it comes to their inner meanings. Creative Thinking is going beyond the limitations and being original and fresh in one’s ideas. Critical Thinking, on the other hand, is more evaluative in nature and analyses a particular thing. Hence, one can conclude that while Creative thinking is generative in purpose, Critical Thinking is analytical in purpose. This is one of the main differences between creative thinking and critical thinking. This article attempts to provide an understanding of the two terms while elaborating the difference.

What is Critical Thinking?

Now let us move on to Critical Thinking. Unlike in the case of Creative thinking, Critical thinking adopts a much more rigid position. One of the features of Critical thinking is that it is not so expansive like creative thinking. In fact, it can be said that critical thinking is judgmental in nature. It is interesting to note that critical thinking is selective too. On the other hand, creative thinking is not selective. It is quite free by nature. The mind is free to think anything creative in the case of creative thinking. On the contrary, the mind is limited to think in the case of critical thinking. Creative thinking is employed in areas such as poetry, novel writing, short story writing and fiction writing. On the other hand, critical thinking is employed in organizations, business areas and the like. Critical thinking is aimed at improving the quality of products produced by a company, customer care service, and the like. It analyses the factors governing the process of running a company. One can claim that when being critical, a person is employed in a process of assessing rather than imagining. He would be analytical and break down a particular concept into various parts and analyze them. This includes paying attention to the plus and minus, the pros and cons, when thinking critically. As human beings, we need to have some ability for both creative and critical thinking. Now let us sum up the differences in the following manner.

What is Creative Thinking?

First let us pay attention to Creative Thinking. In schools and even in universities the students are asked to be creative in their thoughts. This highlights a need to be original and to think outside of the box. If a person is continuously paying attention to the limitations and boundaries, it is quite difficult to be creative. Creative thinking is non-judgmental and expansive. There is no end to creative thinking. In fact, it can be said that the sky is the limit for creative thinking. This is the specialty of Creative thinking. It allows the person to break away from the usual barriers and imagine the unimaginable. Also, Creative thinking is not selective. The mind is free to think anything creative in the case of creative thinking. Unlike in the case of Critical thinking where you are bound to make some choices, in Creative Thinking it is different. Various kinds of choices are not made in the case of creative thinking. In fact, creative thinking aims at generating new and thought provoking ideas. This is why one can claim that creative thinking is all about imagination and imagery. Hence, it is best suited to creative arts like poetry and painting.

What is the Difference Between Creative Thinking and Critical Thinking?

• Creative thinking is generative in purpose whereas critical thinking is analytical in purpose. • Critical thinking is selective, but creative thinking is not selective. • The mind is free to wander about in Creative thinking, but in the case of Critical thinking it is not so.