Chapter 1 from Old Book

1. ▪ "Reason obeys itself: ignorance submits to what is dictated to
it." - Thomas Paine

7. ▪ Critical Thinking
begins with the
desire to improve
what we think

8. Being aware there is a
set of interrelated
critical questions
The ability and
willingness to ask and
answer them at
appropriate times
▪ Don’t be this guy:

9. This is not rhetorical.

10. ▪ The critical questioning will
help you:
▪ React critically
▪ Judge the quality

11. ▪ Form an argument
▪ Write an essay based on a
reading assignment
▪ Participate in class

12. Sponge Approach Panning for Gold

13. ▪ Sponge Approach
▪ Most commonly used thinking
style
▪ Encourages “absorbing” as
much information as you are
able

14. ▪Does not
require
strenuous
mental effort
▪Provides no
method for
deciding which
information to
believe and
which to reject

15. ▪ You read carefully trying to
remember as much
information as you can.

16. ▪ Underline key words and phrases
▪ Take notes summarizing the major topics/points

17. ▪ Your mission is to
understand what the author
has to say

18. ▪ You memorize the
reasoning, but do not
evaluate it.

19. ▪ Panning-for-Gold Approach

20. ▪Requires you to
ask frequent
questions
▪Reflect on the
answers

21. ▪Requires active
participation
Requires a
question-asking
attitude

22. ▪ You will ask yourself a
series of questions to
uncover the best
decision or conclusion

23. ▪ You will critically
evaluate the material
and base your
conclusions from your
evaluation.

24. ▪ You will write notes in the
margins noting any problems
with the reasoning.
▪ You will continually interact
with the material

25. ▪ The “Right Answer” myth
▪ With human behavior is
there always a right
answer?

26. ▪ Do you think that a right answer for me may be a right answer for you?
▪ Why?
▪ Why not?

28. ▪ Most of you already have opinions about personal and social
issues.
▪ Abortion
▪ Gun control
▪ Welfare

29. ▪ You bring these initial
opinions with you to
what you hear and read
▪ You need to use your
critical thinking skills to
▪ evaluate and revise
your initial beliefs

30. ▪Weak-sense
critical thinking:

31. ▪ You use weak-
sense critical
thinking if you
are
unconcerned
with moving
toward truth or
virtue.

32. ▪ Strong-sense critical
thinking:

33. ▪ Does not force you
to give up initial
beliefs.
▪ Can provide a
basis for
strengthening
those beliefs.

35. ▪ What are the right questions to ask?
▪ What are the issues and the conclusions?
▪ What are the reasons?
▪ Which words or phrases are ambiguous?
▪ What are the value and descriptive assumptions?
▪ Are there any fallacies in the reasoning?
▪ How good is the evidence?
▪ Are there rival causes?
▪ Are the statistics deceptive?
▪ What significant information is omitted?
▪ What reasonable conclusions are possible?

36. ▪ The skills you will
learn as a critical
thinker will greatly
improve your writing
and speaking.

37. ▪ Critical thinking will
enhance your
understanding of other
people and their
expectations.

38. ▪ https://www.ted.com/talks/michael_shermer_on_believing
_strange_things

39. ▪ Get text book- read chapters 1-3
▪ Thoroughly complete homework (due next wed.)
▪ Think about possible barriers that could interfere with
your ability to critically think.
▪ Come to the film on Monday
▪ Think about the concept “Group Think”