Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does critical thinking primarily involve?
What does critical thinking primarily involve?
- Systematic evaluation of beliefs by rational standards. (correct)
- Accepting beliefs without question.
- Formulating arguments based on emotions.
- Relying solely on personal experiences for decision-making.
Critical thinking involves only evaluating existing beliefs and not formulating new ones.
Critical thinking involves only evaluating existing beliefs and not formulating new ones.
False (B)
According to the principles of critical thinking, what should you do with beliefs that you are unsure about after rigorous evaluation?
According to the principles of critical thinking, what should you do with beliefs that you are unsure about after rigorous evaluation?
suspend them
A major component of critical thinking is understanding basic principles in ______.
A major component of critical thinking is understanding basic principles in ______.
What could be considered a disadvantage of critical thinking?
What could be considered a disadvantage of critical thinking?
According to the material, beliefs guided by reason do not allow one to think for oneself.
According to the material, beliefs guided by reason do not allow one to think for oneself.
What is the benefit of ensuring our beliefs are guided by reason?
What is the benefit of ensuring our beliefs are guided by reason?
The beliefs we accept following high-quality reasoning are described as beliefs ______ having.
The beliefs we accept following high-quality reasoning are described as beliefs ______ having.
What is one reason the material suggests for why we should make the effort to ensure that our beliefs are guided by reason?
What is one reason the material suggests for why we should make the effort to ensure that our beliefs are guided by reason?
Accepting beliefs of a particular group without question is an example of critical thinking.
Accepting beliefs of a particular group without question is an example of critical thinking.
In philosophy, what type of standards are required to answer a deep question and aim for truth?
In philosophy, what type of standards are required to answer a deep question and aim for truth?
[Blank] can lead us to favor a view even without good reasons.
[Blank] can lead us to favor a view even without good reasons.
Match the bias with its description:
Match the bias with its description:
If Councillor Jackson chooses Proposal 1 for the new city park primarily because it will give him a beautiful view from his house, this is an example of:
If Councillor Jackson chooses Proposal 1 for the new city park primarily because it will give him a beautiful view from his house, this is an example of:
It is always wrong to accept a claim if it furthers your own interests.
It is always wrong to accept a claim if it furthers your own interests.
What is the personal bias where one avoids humiliation or embarrassment in order to maintain one's dignity or reputation?
What is the personal bias where one avoids humiliation or embarrassment in order to maintain one's dignity or reputation?
Examples of reasoning relying on ______ bias includes accepting that killing animals for food is acceptable because almost every culture eats meat.
Examples of reasoning relying on ______ bias includes accepting that killing animals for food is acceptable because almost every culture eats meat.
Fear of social exclusion is a cause of what type of bias?
Fear of social exclusion is a cause of what type of bias?
According to the material, there is never any justification for relying on your culture's beliefs.
According to the material, there is never any justification for relying on your culture's beliefs.
Why is it important to avoid biases when thinking critically?
Why is it important to avoid biases when thinking critically?
To avoid bias, make a conscious effort to look for evidence or arguments that ______ support your preferred views.
To avoid bias, make a conscious effort to look for evidence or arguments that ______ support your preferred views.
What does relativism suggest?
What does relativism suggest?
The material suggests that relativism should be accepted because it promotes inclusivity.
The material suggests that relativism should be accepted because it promotes inclusivity.
According to the material, why should we reject relativism?
According to the material, why should we reject relativism?
The rule of truth suggests something ought to be believed if evidence shows that it is true or very ______ to be true.
The rule of truth suggests something ought to be believed if evidence shows that it is true or very ______ to be true.
According to the material, what is the primary purpose of an argument?
According to the material, what is the primary purpose of an argument?
According to the lessons, the main goal of an argument is to shout down and defeat an opponent.
According to the lessons, the main goal of an argument is to shout down and defeat an opponent.
List the basic structural components of an argument.
List the basic structural components of an argument.
In an argument, a reason given in support of a conclusion is called a ______.
In an argument, a reason given in support of a conclusion is called a ______.
What structural element provides evidence that a belief is true or very likely to be true?
What structural element provides evidence that a belief is true or very likely to be true?
Explanations provide evidence for why you should believe something.
Explanations provide evidence for why you should believe something.
In an argument, what is the claim that you are trying to support, justify, or defend?
In an argument, what is the claim that you are trying to support, justify, or defend?
The primary difference between a reason and an explanation lies in their purpose: reasons aim to ______ beliefs, while explanations aim to clarify them.
The primary difference between a reason and an explanation lies in their purpose: reasons aim to ______ beliefs, while explanations aim to clarify them.
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a good argument?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a good argument?
Critical Thinking involves understanding basic logical principles.
Critical Thinking involves understanding basic logical principles.
According to the presentation, what does cultural bias involve?
According to the presentation, what does cultural bias involve?
If a person rejects the notion that some individuals, like experts, are more likely to be correct than others, this can be the result of embracing ______.
If a person rejects the notion that some individuals, like experts, are more likely to be correct than others, this can be the result of embracing ______.
Which of the following best describes the role of premises within an argument?
Which of the following best describes the role of premises within an argument?
In a high-pressure situation, one should avoid tendencies to ‘save face’.
In a high-pressure situation, one should avoid tendencies to ‘save face’.
Match each term with its definition in the context of critical thinking and arguments:
Match each term with its definition in the context of critical thinking and arguments:
Flashcards
What is Critical Thinking?
What is Critical Thinking?
The systematic evaluation or formulation of beliefs, or statements, by rational standards.
Logic
Logic
The study of arguments and the rules that govern good reasoning.
Worthwhile beliefs
Worthwhile beliefs
Beliefs we accept after high-quality reasoning are valuable.
Bias
Bias
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Vested Interest
Vested Interest
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Saving Face
Saving Face
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Cultural Bias
Cultural Bias
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Social Acceptance
Social Acceptance
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Social Exclusion
Social Exclusion
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In-group Superiority
In-group Superiority
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Relativism
Relativism
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The Rule of Truth
The Rule of Truth
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Arguments
Arguments
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Conclusion
Conclusion
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Premise
Premise
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Reasons
Reasons
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Explanations
Explanations
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Study Notes
Critical Thinking: An Overview
- Critical thinking involves the systematic evaluation or formulation of beliefs or statements based on rational standards as defined by Vaughn in 2018.
What You'll Learn
- Basic logical principles will be taught.
- The ability to identify good and bad arguments.
- How to standardize and evaluate arguments.
This Week's Focus
- Define critical thinking and explore its importance.
- Examine the basic structure of an argument.
- Learn to identify arguments versus descriptions, explanations, or rhetoric.
Core Concepts
- Beliefs accepted through high-quality reasoning are worth having.
- Beliefs rejected after high-quality reasoning are worth discarding.
- Beliefs that cannot be accepted or rejected after high standards of rationality should be suspended.
- Logic is the study of arguments and the rules that govern good reasoning.
The Value of Critical Thinking
- Ensuring beliefs are guided by reason avoids accepting beliefs from specific groups.
- This also prevents accepting initially reasonable beliefs without scrutiny.
- Beliefs form the foundation for decision-making, motivations, and actions.
- Reason-guided beliefs promote independent thinking.
- Thinking for oneself leads to independence and authenticity.
Disadvantages
- One may become overly critical.
- One ma develop or appear as insensitive or emotionally cold.
The Role of Critical Thinking
- In philosophy, rigorous reasoning standards are essential for answering complex questions and finding truth.
- Critical thinking is a skill to develop for life, especially given the many obstacles to rational thought.
Obstacles to Critical Thinking
- Psychological barriers involve personal and cultural biases.
- Philosophical barriers involve relativism.
Obstacles to Rationality: Bias
- Bias can cause one to illegitimately favor a view.
- Personal biases include vested interest.
- Another personal bias is saving face.
- Cultural bias involves pressure to conform within a group.
- Cultural bias can occur due to popularity, fear of social exclusion, or assumption of in-group superiority.
- Examples of cultural bias include justifying meat consumption or assuming the impermissibility of abortion based on cultural norms.
- Accepting a groups' beliefs is acceptable when they are supported by good reasons.
- Bias should be avoided because it can be morally wrong.
- Bias interferes with personal growth.
- Bias makes one vulnerable to manipulation.
Avoiding Bias
- Consciously seek evidence or arguments against your preferred views.
- Ensure comprehensive consideration.
- Double-check your reasoning if emotionally invested.
- Level belief acceptance according to argument quality.
- Be aware of your relationship with claimants and consider other points fairly.
Obstacles to Rationality: Relativism
- Relativism, if something is believed by a person or group, it is true.
- Relativism should be rejected as it could allow absurd beliefs and undermine experts.
- Relativism is self-refuting.
Becoming Critical Thinkers
- "The Rule of Truth" states something should be believed if its likely to be true
- Arguments are attempts to justify, or defend a conclusion with reasoning.
Understanding arguments
- Arguments are not simply verbal disputes or displays of aggression.
- They also do not aim to just shout down an opponent.
- Arguments have a conclusion and at least one premise.
- The conclusion of an argument is the claim one is trying to defend.
- Each premise is a reason in support of the conclusion.
- Reasons provide evidence showing a belief is more likely to be true.
- A premise would be "We would get tired and bored if we lived forever."
- A conclusion based on that premise would be "Living forever is undesirable."
- Reasons provide evidence to support or justify claims differently than explanations do.
- Explanations tell the reason why something is happening.
- Explanations would clarify claims rather than offer reasoning.
- Example: A reason that Lionel likes coffee would be "I once saw Lionel drink four cups of coffee in one day."
- An explanation of the matter would be "Lionel is addicted to caffeine."
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