ThinkingThinkingCritically and CreativelyCritically and Creatively

““The function of education is The function of education is to teach one to think to teach one to think intensively and to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus critically. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of character—that is the goal of true education.”true education.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.Martin Luther King, Jr.

Critical thinking is needed to Critical thinking is needed to solve the complex problems in solve the complex problems in the world today.the world today.

For example:For example:“Now that I look back, I realize that a “Now that I look back, I realize that a life predicated on being obedient and life predicated on being obedient and taking orders is a very comfortable taking orders is a very comfortable life indeed. Living in such a way life indeed. Living in such a way reduces to a minimum one’s own reduces to a minimum one’s own need to think.”need to think.”

--Adolph Eichman who played a central rolein the killing of six million Jews

Fallacies in ReasoningFallacies in Reasoning

Patterns of incorrect reasoning Patterns of incorrect reasoning

Appeal to A Questionable Appeal to A Questionable AuthorityAuthority Example: Using sports figures to Example: Using sports figures to

endorse productsendorse products

Jumping to ConclusionsJumping to Conclusions

A hasty generalization A hasty generalization Example: One college student does not Example: One college student does not

pay back a loan. The bank manager pay back a loan. The bank manager concludes that students are poor risks concludes that students are poor risks for loans.for loans.

Making GeneralizationsMaking Generalizations

Assume all members of the group are Assume all members of the group are the samethe same

Example: All lawyers are greedy.Example: All lawyers are greedy.

Attacking the Person Attacking the Person

We attack the person rather than We attack the person rather than discussing the issuediscussing the issue

Example: Attacking the President to Example: Attacking the President to sidetrack the issuessidetrack the issues

Appeal to Common BeliefAppeal to Common Belief

Just because it is common belief does Just because it is common belief does not make it truenot make it true

Example: At one time people believed Example: At one time people believed that the world was flatthat the world was flat

Common PracticeCommon Practice

If everyone does it, it must be OKIf everyone does it, it must be OK Example: It’s OK to cheat on your Example: It’s OK to cheat on your

taxes. Everyone else does.taxes. Everyone else does.

Appeal to TraditionAppeal to Tradition

We’ve always done it that wayWe’ve always done it that way Example: Some jobs are only for men Example: Some jobs are only for men

and others only for womenand others only for women

Two WrongsTwo Wrongs It is OK to do something wrong because It is OK to do something wrong because

other people do itother people do it Example: Someone cuts you off on the Example: Someone cuts you off on the

freeway so you pull in front and cut freeway so you pull in front and cut them off them off

Slippery SlopeSlippery Slope

Dire consequencesDire consequences Example: If you fail this class, you are a Example: If you fail this class, you are a

failure for lifefailure for life

Wishful ThinkingWishful Thinking

An extremely positive outcome is An extremely positive outcome is proposed to distract from logicproposed to distract from logic

Example: Get rich quick schemesExample: Get rich quick schemes

Beware of ScamsBeware of Scams

It’s too good to be trueIt’s too good to be true There is a rush to make a decisionThere is a rush to make a decision You have to pay money or give your You have to pay money or give your

credit card number credit card number High pressure, time limitsHigh pressure, time limits Prizes and big promisesPrizes and big promises The word “free”The word “free”

Critical Thinking Over the Critical Thinking Over the InternetInternet Beware of appearances.Beware of appearances. What is the source?What is the source? Why was the information posted?Why was the information posted? What is the date of the Web site?What is the date of the Web site? Can the information be verified Can the information be verified

elsewhere?elsewhere?

Appeal to Fear or Scare Appeal to Fear or Scare TacticsTactics Emotions interfere with rational thinkingEmotions interfere with rational thinking Example: Political advertisements that Example: Political advertisements that

describe dire consequences describe dire consequences

Appeal to PityAppeal to Pity

Again, emotions replace logicAgain, emotions replace logic Example: Sob storyExample: Sob story

Appeal to LoyaltyAppeal to Loyalty

Group behavior, right or wrongGroup behavior, right or wrong Example: Voting for the candidate who Example: Voting for the candidate who

appears most popularappears most popular

Appeal to PrejudiceAppeal to Prejudice

A stereotype in which all members of a A stereotype in which all members of a group are judged to be the samegroup are judged to be the same

Example: Racial prejudicesExample: Racial prejudices

Appeal to VanityAppeal to Vanity

Making complimentsMaking compliments Example: “Apple polishing”Example: “Apple polishing”

Post Hoc Reasoning or False Post Hoc Reasoning or False CausesCauses Cause and effect are not relatedCause and effect are not related Example: SuperstitionsExample: Superstitions

Straw Men or WomenStraw Men or Women Create an image of someone Create an image of someone

else, like a scarecrow, to else, like a scarecrow, to discredit the persondiscredit the person

Example: Political speeches Example: Political speeches which paint the opponent in an which paint the opponent in an unfavorable lightunfavorable light

Cult BehaviorCult Behavior

Beliefs for which hard evidence is Beliefs for which hard evidence is lackinglacking

Example: Cults such as Heaven’s GateExample: Cults such as Heaven’s Gate The opposite of critical thinkingThe opposite of critical thinking Blindly following a charismatic leaderBlindly following a charismatic leader Belonging to a group Belonging to a group

How to Become a Critical How to Become a Critical ThinkerThinker

Universal Standards to Assure Universal Standards to Assure Quality ThinkingQuality Thinking

ClarityClarity AccuracyAccuracy PrecisionPrecision RelevanceRelevance

DepthDepth BreadthBreadth LogicLogic FairnessFairness

Alternative ViewsAlternative Views

IssuePersonTopic

Individual Point of View Based on:ExperienceValuesBeliefsCultureKnowledge

The Critical Thinking ProcessThe Critical Thinking Process

State the problem in a clear wayState the problem in a clear way Identify the alternative viewsIdentify the alternative views Watch for fallacies in reasoningWatch for fallacies in reasoning Find at least 3 different answersFind at least 3 different answers Construct your own reasonable view Construct your own reasonable view

Exercise: Critical ThinkingExercise: Critical Thinking

Tips for Critical ThinkingTips for Critical Thinking

Beware of your mind-setBeware of your mind-set Be willing to say, “I don’t know.”Be willing to say, “I don’t know.” Practice tolerancePractice tolerance Understand different points of viewUnderstand different points of view Understand before criticizingUnderstand before criticizing Emotions get in the way of clear thinkingEmotions get in the way of clear thinking Examine the sourceExamine the source

Questions for Critical ThinkersQuestions for Critical Thinkers

Who said it?Who said it? What makes the author think so?What makes the author think so? So what?So what?

Creative ThinkingCreative Thinking

Creative thinking is part of the Creative thinking is part of the critical thinking process. Use critical thinking process. Use it for:it for: Generating alternativesGenerating alternatives Thinking of possibilitiesThinking of possibilities Creative problem solvingCreative problem solving Creating new ideasCreating new ideas Using more of your potentialUsing more of your potential

The Creative IndividualThe Creative Individual

Asks, “Why?”Asks, “Why?” Is curious about the worldIs curious about the world Looks at many possibilities or Looks at many possibilities or

alternatives (divergent thinking)alternatives (divergent thinking)

The Three S’s of CreativityThe Three S’s of Creativity

SensitivitySensitivity SynergySynergy SerendipitySerendipity

Uses the senses to discover the worldUses the senses to discover the world Asks, “Why does this happen?”Asks, “Why does this happen?” “ “How can I do this?”How can I do this?” Problem finders as well as problem Problem finders as well as problem

solverssolvers

Two or more elements are associated in Two or more elements are associated in a new way and the result is greater than a new way and the result is greater than the sum of the partsthe sum of the parts

Example: “Two heads are better than Example: “Two heads are better than one.”one.”

Unexpected discoveriesUnexpected discoveries Lucky accidentsLucky accidents Some examples . . . .Some examples . . . .

SerendiptiySerendiptiy

Remember Alexander Fleming?

Serendipity: Duke EllingtonSerendipity: Duke Ellington

Creative Thinking Techniques Creative Thinking Techniques

BrainstormingBrainstorming Quantity without regard Quantity without regard

to quality as a first stepto quality as a first step Time limitTime limit Goal or quotaGoal or quota Wild and unusual is goodWild and unusual is good Use synergy by doing it in a groupUse synergy by doing it in a group Use fantasy and imaginationUse fantasy and imagination Select the best ideas as a last stepSelect the best ideas as a last step

Brainstorming Exercise:Brainstorming Exercise:The PeanutThe Peanut

Look at your peanut.Look at your peanut.

How is this peanut How is this peanut like you?like you?

Can you come up with 10 Can you come up with 10 answers in 3 minutes?answers in 3 minutes?

Let’s hear your creative ideas.Let’s hear your creative ideas.

How is this peanut like you?How is this peanut like you?

It’s wrinkled, like me.It’s wrinkled, like me. It’s brown, like me.It’s brown, like me. It cracks under pressure.It cracks under pressure. What you see is not always what you What you see is not always what you

get.get. Everyone is different.Everyone is different. It just sits in class.It just sits in class.

How is this peanut like going How is this peanut like going to college?to college?

Let’s use some synergy and Let’s use some synergy and work together on this one.work together on this one.

How many answers can we How many answers can we come up with in 5 minutes?come up with in 5 minutes?

You can steal other people’s You can steal other people’s ideas.ideas.

How is this peanut like going How is this peanut like going to college?to college? There are 2 nuts inside. One is the There are 2 nuts inside. One is the

teacher and one is the student. teacher and one is the student. We’re all nuts to a degree!We’re all nuts to a degree! College drives me nuts!College drives me nuts! It’s rough.It’s rough. We both went to class today.We both went to class today.

Elements of CreativityElements of Creativity

Use the pressure of a time limit.Use the pressure of a time limit. Use a goal or quota.Use a goal or quota. Be relaxed.Be relaxed. Suspend judgment.Suspend judgment. Focus your attention.Focus your attention. Have fun with it.Have fun with it. Use a different perspective.Use a different perspective.

More TechniquesMore Techniques

Relaxed AttentionRelaxed Attention

The paradox of:The paradox of: Ho-hum Ho-hum Aha!Aha!

Relax and then focus Relax and then focus

Relaxed AttentionRelaxed Attention

Think about itThink about it Relax and let it incubateRelax and let it incubate The creative inspiration The creative inspiration

is the aha!is the aha!

Use Relaxed Attention in Use Relaxed Attention in StudyingStudying If you get stuck on a problem, relax and If you get stuck on a problem, relax and

come back to it latercome back to it later You are likely to come up with a You are likely to come up with a

creative inspiration while relaxingcreative inspiration while relaxing Come back to the problem and solve itCome back to the problem and solve it

Idea FilesIdea Files

Ideas you find Ideas you find interestinginteresting

Can you think Can you think of examples?of examples?

Visualization and ImaginationVisualization and ImaginationUseful for:Useful for:

Memory Memory RelaxationRelaxation CreativityCreativity

Exercise:Exercise:Using Visualization Using Visualization and Imaginationand Imagination

Can you make the light go on?Can you make the light go on?

More Creativity TechniquesMore Creativity Techniques

ReadRead Keep a journalKeep a journal Think criticallyThink critically

Keys to Success:Keys to Success:Learn to Laugh at LifeLearn to Laugh at Life

Have a laugh at life and look Have a laugh at life and look around for happiness instead around for happiness instead of sadness.of sadness.

-- --Red SkeltonRed Skelton

The physical act of smiling The physical act of smiling makes you feel happier.makes you feel happier.

If you do not feel happy, smile If you do not feel happy, smile and pretend to be happy.and pretend to be happy. Smiling produces seratonin which is a Smiling produces seratonin which is a

neurotransmitter linked with feelings of neurotransmitter linked with feelings of happinesshappiness

So, smile and be happy. Use So, smile and be happy. Use your creativity to make some your creativity to make some positive changes in your life.positive changes in your life.