Lecture 1 Introduction to Critical Thinking

8/8/2019 Lecture 1 Introduction to Critical Thinking

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Critical Thinking

Chapter 1

Introduction to Critical Thinking


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Critical Thinking

Critical here does not mean negative.

Critical thinking is thinking that involves/exercises

skilled judgment or observation.

A good critical thinkerhas the cognitive skills andintellectual dispositions needed to effectively

identify, analyze and evaluate arguments* and

truth claims.*note: arguments, as we shall use it in this class,

does not mean disagreements.


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Why Study Critical Thinking?

Critical Thinking enables one toproduce and assess intellectual work

better, as well as to act more

reasonably and effectively in the

world of affairs and personal life.

Richard Paul:


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Why Study Critical Thinking?

Critical thinking is important tounderstanding a wide range of other

disciplines.

Richard Paul:

Economics Politics Philosophy

Psychology Sociology English

Business IT Research


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It is central to Life because survival and

success is depend on how we think

Opinion

Attitude

Values World view

Beliefs

Behaviors

Skills

As a leader

As a participant

As a communicatorIn self management

In work

In relationships

In decision making

In action takingIn recreation

Affect us


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The Benefits of Critical Thinking

In the college classroom, the workplace, and life

The main purpose of your education is to teach you how to live.

How to

evaluate your own beliefs and develop your belief set.

understand and evaluate the beliefs/positions/arguments

of others.

ultimately develop a belief system that corresponds to the

way the world is and leads to an ethical and meaningful life.


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The Benefits of Critical Thinking

Specificallyat workcritical thinking

will allow you to do your job better.

Employers are more concerned withhiring someone who can reason

efficiently (so they can figure out the

best way to handle whatever the job

throws at them), not someone who

has been taught a specific skill.


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Specificallyin lifecritical thinking helps us avoid bad personal decisions.

make informed political decisions.

attain personal enrichment.

behave morally.


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Critical Thinking Standards

Clarity: that which is true can be expressed clearly. Clarity inexpression is a sign of intelligence. Obscurity in expression is asign that one really doesnt understand the idea one isexpressing.

Precision: close attention to detail. Specific definitions andspecific questions.

Is abortion wrong? is vague.

Should abortion be legal?, Is having an abortion evermoral? are more specific questions.

Accuracy: making sure your information and beliefs are true.One cant reason correctly with false information.

Relevance: Irrelevance can distract people from the point but

never helps to truly prove the point.


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An Effective thinker

Demonstrates the attitudes of courage, humility,integrity, open-mindedness and perseverance.

Source: http://ictnz.com/handouts/UlearnThinking.pdf

Courageous

Willing to challenge and

query, determined to

understand and make

sense of things.


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Humility

Recognise that their understanding may be

limited or built on false premise, bias orassumptions.

They are willing to suspend judgment when

information is insufficient.

Integrity

The determination to examine their own

attitudes, beliefs and thoughts by the

same standards they apply to others.

Open-mindedness

A willingness to review their own opinions,

beliefs, thoughts and attitudes in the light of

further information and input.


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Logical Thinking and the

Process of Persuasion One of the ways that we use logic is to

determine whether and when we should

be persuaded to do or believe somethingthat another person wants us to.

We also use logic to persuade others toagree with our point of view.


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Logic

Is the process of examining a body of

information and drawing inferences about it.

Inferences = ideas based on other ideas that

you have reasoned to be true or

The act or process of deriving logical

conclusions from premises known or assumedto be true.


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Logic

Is the process of examining a body of

information and drawing inferences about it.

Inferences:

The act or process of deriving conclusions

from premises known or assumed to be

true.


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Lets practice looking at a

body of information and at

the inferences that could be

drawn about it.


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A businessman had just switched off the lights in the store

when a man appeared and demanded money. The owner

opened a cash register. The contents of the cash register

were scooped up and the man sped away. Amember of the

police was notified right away.

A body of information:

An inference or conclusion:

The one who demanded money was a man.

Analysing the inference is it true,

false or are we unable to tell because

of a lack of information?:


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The one who opened the cash register was the owner.





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An inference or conclusion:The lights were still on in the store when a man

appeared and demanded money.





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An inference or conclusion:The man who arrived after the lights had been switched

off escaped with the money.





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Someone scooped up the money.





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An inference or conclusion:The man who demanded money was driving an

automobile.Analysing the inference is it true,




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The story is about three men.





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Ways to develop critical thinking

In order to exercise critical thinking, we

should understand components that form

arguments. We shall cover them next

week.

Also, throughout the trimester, we shall

learn ways to formulate good arguments

and ways to evaluate bad arguments.

Documents

Lecture 1 Introduction to Critical Thinking