This document provides a short introduction to critical thinking. It outlines some of the key tools and habits of critical thinking, including argumentation, the scientific method, and cognitive biases. It also discusses common fallacies of relevance and sufficiency that can undermine arguments. The conclusion encourages the reader to become familiar with important critical thinking tools, apply them regularly to form good habits, and support reasoning well and making good decisions.

1. Critical Thinking: A (Very) Short Intro
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2. 01 - Argumentation
02 - Scientific Method
03 - Cognitive Biases
04 - Media Literacy
…
A set of tools
and habits.

3. 01 - Argumentation
02 - Scientific Method
03 - Cognitive Biases
04 - Media Literacy
…
A set of tools
and habits.

4. Reason 1
Reason 2
Reason 3
…
__________________________________
Conclusion
What is an
argument?
?

5. Two simple ways how arguments can
go wrong
Relevance
#
Sufficiency
$

6. The reasons provided, while
psychologically persuasive, are
logically irrelevant to the
conclusion they are supposed to
support.
Fallacies of
relevance.
#

7. Pointing out someone’s personal
characteristics in an attempt to
discredit his/her argument.
Personal attack
(ad hominem).

8. Suggesting that a conclusion is
correct just because it is linked
with some past or present
tradition.
Appeal to
tradition.

9. Providing someone’s opinion as a
reason for accepting a conclusion,
even though the individual has no
relevant expertise on the topic.
Appeal to irrelevant
authority.

10. While the reasons provided are
logically relevant, without
additional support they are
insufficient to warrant the
conclusion.
Fallacies of
sufficiency.
$

11. Using personal experience or
isolated examples as evidence in
support of a conclusion.
Anecdotal
evidence.

12. Suggestion that, just because B
happened after or simultaneously
with A, B happened because of A.
Correlation
implies causation.

13. Become familiar
with the most
important tools.
Critical thinking -
the way forward.
Apply them
regularly, create
habits.
Reason well, make
good decisions.

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15. Critical Thinking: A (Very) Short Intro
? ! ○
@Martins_Vaivars, martins@toneboard.com