Chapter 1 - The Power of Critical Thinking PDF

Chapter 1 - The Power of Critical Thinking Chapter Goals: 1.​ What Critical Thinking is All About ○​ Definition: The scrutiny or construction of parameters, belief or statement can be made in a logical sense. ○​ Key Terms: ​ Systematic: Employin...

Chapter 1 - The Power of Critical Thinking Chapter Goals: 1.​ What Critical Thinking is All About ○​ Definition: The scrutiny or construction of parameters, belief or statement can be made in a logical sense. ○​ Key Terms: ​ Systematic: Employing special steps and processes. ​ Evaluation/Formulation: Changing existing beliefs and forming new ones. ​ Rational Standards: Supporting reasoning through belief. 2.​ The Importance of Critical Thinking ○​ Encompasses logic, untruths, knowledge, and self-determination. ○​ Helps with making important decisions. ○​ Aids in the rejection of belief acceptance without questioning. 3.​ Why It Matters ○​ Supports the scrutinization and internalization of attained beliefs. ○​ Helps to correct “cynical,” “emotionless,” or “lack of creativeness” misconceptions. ○​ Useful in all disciplines and crucial for the decision-making process. 4.​ How It Works ○​ Differentiating Statements: Knowing which statements make the truth claims. ○​ Understanding Arguments: Knowing the reasons (premises) and conclusions. ○​ Using Indicator Words: “Because” is an indicator of a proposition and “Therefore” signals a conclusion. Examine Evidence Before Making Conclusions suggests the definition of critical reasoning. Factual Regurgitation Reflection does not embody how and why. It contains reasoning along with emotions a person possesses. Combining emotion, consideration, and logic is the only ideal way of approaching the question What is Critical Thinking? You cannot avoid the question while answering the question what. Objective: To figure out the truths that are likely to be true, rather than accepted at face value or inherited. Critical Thinking and Logic Locus is the study of good reasoning and all aspects that govern it. Critical Thinking goes further than logic to consider context, evidence, and the manner in which ideas are communicated. Empowerment Through Critical Thinking Promotes self growth awareness and understanding. Facilitates learning and solution formulation in different areas (e.g. science, law, morality). Promotes the attitude of I do not know, but I want to learn. Why Think Critically? An individual does not exist in a vacuum: The personal beliefs of one person can affect other people's beliefs and vice versa. Cognitive engagement does not equal emotional detachment: Critical thinking does not mean a lack of emotions. Rather, it is a collection of being mindful of one’s emotions and being ready to accept new evidence while not losing sight of one’s biases. Self Writing: Critical thinking enables creative ideas to be well formulated and ensures they are based on facts, not fiction. To foster creativity, one must challenge the existing beliefs to reimagine new boundaries. Important Parts of Critical Thinking A. Judging Beliefs and Their Supporting Evidence ​ Meaning and Correspondent Evidence ○​ A belief must portray the world as it indeed is. ​ Evidence as Proof ○​ Gathering and systematically arranging proof strengthens an argument. ○​ Proof entails expert testimonies, empirical evidence, and logical reasoning. ​ Arguments And The Legal Analogy ○​ As with any case presented in court, a legal argument is made in the same fashion. B Confirmation Bias ​ Definition ○​ The tendency to selectively search for and interpret information in a way that one’s expectations are confirmed. ​ Importance ○​ Confirmation bias can facilitate the process of inference, but integrating and halting confirmation bias is more elaborative and accurate. C. Epistemic Humility One’s willingness to accept ignorance, i.e., accept that one does not know something even if one does. ​ Socratic Influence ○​ “Not knowing,” or considering that one does not possess information is empowering and provides for the potential for the authentic learning journey. ​ FAFO ○​ Find out by trying: Let in ambiguity as a method of questioning and exploring to learn constructively. 4. Dismissing Non-Statements and Statements ​ Statements (Claims) ○​ Sentences with descriptions that can either be true or false (For instance: “The Earth rotates around The Sun,” “I am fatigued”) ○​ They are the points that form the backbone of an argument, and are assertable descriptions because they permit exact examination. “Turn off the lights!” and “What time is it?” are statements that serve as a command, question, and exclamation simultaneously. Due to the failure of the Non Statements to pass any scrutiny, they cannot be classified as valid premises nor arguments. 5. Components of Arguments ​ Premise ○​ A statement that substantiates the claim will serve as a justification (the “why”). ​ Conclusion ○​ Claim positioned to be a true statement (the “what” you are trying to prove). ​ Inference ○​ A statement that serves as the link between the premise and the conclusion logically. ​ Example: “Therefore, Socrates is Mortal.” ​ Premise: All humans are mortal. ​ Conclusion: Socrates is a human. 6. Recognizing Arguments in Context Indicator Words Premise Indicators: Because, since, given that, for, etc. Conclusion Indicators: Therefore, thus, hence, so, consequently, etc. There are other astonishing clues, even alongside the explanations and arguments. And many more such tools; even clues, evidence, quotes or even definitions serve as indications. ​ Arguments vs Explanations ○​ Argument: The attempt to substantiate one’s assertion to be true. ○​ Example: Three people saw a man stealing money, Adam is the one who took the money so he must have done it. ​ Explanation: The attempt to justify why or how claims stand the test of arguments. ○​ Example: To buy food, Adam took the money. Challenges Overly complex issues often hide strong arguments. To separate background context from premises and conclusions, certain pieces of text must be analysed very carefully. 7. Logical Soundness: validity vs Truth ​ Validity ○​ Centres around the skeleton of the argument. ○​ An argument is valid if the true premises automatically lead to a true conclusion. ○​ An argument can be valid although it has false premises. ​ Truth ○​ A statement is true if it conforms with actuality. ○​ It is different from validity which is structural. ​ Cogency (Inductive Arguments) ○​ An argument is cogent in inductive reasoning if it is universally accepted that the premises are true and the conclusion is reasonable as well. 8. What is Knowledge? Historically, knowledge has been regarded as having three components:  ​ Belief ○​ You have to believe the proposition. ​ Justification ○​ You should have sufficient justifications or evidence to support believing so. ​ Truth ○​ The proposition must be considered true. 9. Challenges in Critical Thinking ​ Identifying Arguments ○​ In long and complicated texts, the premises and the conclusion can get lost or are hard to find. ​ Logical Fallacies Avoidance ○​ Straw Man Fallacy: Distorting view of an opponent’s argument to easier tackle it. ○​ Some other commonly made mistakes are ad hominem, false cause, and hasty generalization. ​ Overcoming Biases ○​ Motivated reasoning, confirmation bias, and other biases tend to warp our perceptions of information given to us. 10. Why It Matters ​ Personal Freedom ○​ Well reasoned beliefs that were created independently are truly yours, and not the result of the society or your family’s culture. ​ Tools Against Manipulation ○​ Helps in defending against propaganda, misinformation, perceptions, and irrational beliefs. ​ Enhancing Creativity ○​ The ideas, after undergoing a crucial thought process, ensure their reliability and reasonability. ​ Application Across Disciplines ○​ Critical thinking is equally important in science and art, politics, and in the entire society for its advancement. 11. Summary ​ The term Critical Thinking describes the process of examining one’s beliefs or conclusions and reaching them through evidence and rational thinking. ​ It requires knowing about the logic, form of argument, and how evidence is presented. ​ Adopting an attitude of Epistemic humility which is the ability to say “I don’t know” is extremely important in lifelong learning. ​ Understanding how to lessen biases, and differentiating between validity and truth gives birth to a better thinker. ​ Finally, critical thinking allows one to be able to make well-reasoned decisions, be creative, and most importantly, believe in things constructively.