The paper discusses the problem of the formation of critical thinking among students of higher educational institutions as the basis of universal and general professional competencies. This is one of the most important skills of the XXI century, the need for the development of which among students, determines the need to change the forms and content of the educational process in the course of philosophy. The study substantiates the need to introduce and use the technology of developing critical thinking in the educational process, aimed at developing and updating the skills of independent thinking, readiness to reflect on the most important worldview issues of our time, the ability to prob-lematize and find ways to solve cognitive and life problems. The paper provides examples of tasks that contribute to the formation of critical thinking among students. The effectiveness of mastering the philosophy course is possible through a combination of traditional and innovative teaching technologies. The authors focus on dialogic techniques and teaching methods that are appropriate to use in the learning process.