CHAPTER 2 Beyond Feelings What Is Critical Thinking?

CHAPTER 2Beyond Feelings

What Is Critical Thinking?

AppreciateBelieveCerebrateCogitateConceiveConsider

What is Critical Thinking?

ConsultFancyImagineMeditateReasonReflect

RealizePonderSupposeWeighMuseDream

“corPLUS calloSUM”

Mind, Brain or Both?

G.W. Leibnitz

John Locke

If you see the lady turning clockwise you are using your right brain. If you see it the other way, you are using left brain.

Very few people can see it both ways. See if you can make her go one way and then the other by shifting the brain’s current. BOTH DIRECTIONS CAN BE SEEN.

Critical Thinking Defined

• Thinking is not feeling• Thinking is a conscious mental process• Critical thinking is evaluation (questioning & analyzing)

Characteristics of Critical Thinkers

• Control of one’s mental activities• Honest with themselves• Embrace challenges• Base judgments on evidence• Interested in other people’s ideas• Don’t operate in absolutes• Practice Restraint

The Role of Intuition

Activities in Critical Thinking

1. Investigation2. Interpretation3. Judgment

Critical Thinking & Discussion

• Prepare in advance• Set reasonable expectations• Leave ego/personal agenda at the door• Contribute but don’t dominate• Avoid distracting speech mannerisms• Listen actively• Judge ideas responsibly• Resist the urge to shout/interrupt

CHAPTER 3Beyond Feelings

What Is Truth?

What Is Truth?Does one Truth exist? Is there an absolute answer to

everything?

Truth is what stands the test of experience. -Albert Einstein

What’s wrong with this statement?

IMPLICATIONS:

•everyone is right, no one is wrong

•whatever someone thinks shouldn’t be questioned

•our perceptions and memories are always perfect

•we never adopt anyone else’s truth…each perspective is uniquely ours, not shared or influenced by others

Where Does It All Begin?

IMPLICATION: we never adopt anyone else’s truth…each perspective is uniquely ours, not shared or influenced by others

Imitation

How good are your observational

skills?

Imperfect Perception

Allport & Postman (1958): Subway Car Picture

IMPLICATION: Our perceptions and memories are always perfect

Imperfect Memory

Elizabeth Loftus

Calvin Willis being Released from Prison

How good is your memory of 9/11?

IMPLICATION: Our perceptions and memories are always perfect

Deficient InformationIMPLICATION: Everyone is right, no one can be wrong & whatever

some one thinks shouldn’t be questioned

Truth is Discovered, Not Created

1. Our beliefs are influenced by others2. Perception and memory are imperfect3. Our information can be incorrect

Bottom Line: We do not create our own truth, we create our own beliefs