The document discusses barriers to critical thinking such as egocentrism, sociocentrism, unwarranted assumptions and stereotypes, relativistic thinking, and wishful thinking. Egocentrism refers to thinking primarily about oneself, while sociocentrism is group-centered thinking. Unwarranted assumptions are beliefs made without evidence, and relativistic thinking says that truth is subjective. The document also lists characteristics of a critical thinker, including being passionate about critical thinking standards, sensitivity to multiple perspectives, strong analytical skills, open-mindedness, and acknowledging personal biases.

1. Week 2
Barriers to critical thinking
Characteristics of a critical thinker

2. What prevents you from thinking critically?
1. Egocentrism
2. Sociocentrism
3. Unwarranted assumptions and stereotypes
4. Relativistic thinking
5. Wishful thinking

3. Egocentrism
“Think about myself first”
“I am important than anyone else.”
Self-interested thinking:
● Accept people and things similar to me
● Defend anything/anyone different from me
Self-serving bias: overrate oneself

4. Sociocentrism
Group-centred thinking
Group bias:
● My group is better than others.
● Vietnamese products are the best.
● America is the best place in the world.
● Some Japanese people use only Japanese products.

5. Sociocentrism
Group-centred thinking
If you bought a new motorbike, what brand would you choose? Why?
If you bought a new mobile phone, what brand would you choose? Why?
Following the crowd (unconsciously): conformism

6. Assumption
A belief without sound evidence or proof.
● Wearing glasses - a nerd
● Wearing white blouses - a doctor
● Being a student - do not ask questions in lectures

7. Assumptions
● Bringing an umbrella after
watching a weather forecast
● Buying a carton of milk before its
expired date, it is assumed to not
to be sour.
Warranted
assumptions
beliefs based on
some mutual
agreement

8. Unwarranted assumptions
Unwarranted assumptions
Any given
evidence?

9. Where is he from?
What does he do?
Would you talk to
him if you met him?

11. Unwarranted assumptions and stereotypes
Stereotypes: hasty generalization
Africa
What do you think about
her personality?

12. Relativistic thinking
Relativism: truth is a matter of opinion.
Subjectivism: What I believe is true, it is true.

13. Relativistic thinking
Cultural relativism: truth is a matter of social opinion.
What my society believes is true, it is true.

14. Relativistic thinking
Moral relativism:
What I believe is morally right, it is right.
A vegan believes eating fish
is morally wrong.

15. Relativistic thinking
Cultural moral relativism: What my society believes is morally right, it is right.
Hi, Phuong. How are you?
Hi, Phong. Thanks, I’m good.
How about you?
Chào Phương. Cô
khoẻ không cô?
Chào Phong, cô
khoẻ. Em sao rồi?

16. Wishful thinking
Because I believe
angels do exist.
Why?
Angels exist.

17. Wishful thinking
Believe in something that you want to be true
You do not have any evidence for it, but you wish it were true, so it is true.

18. What characteristics does a critical thinker have?

19. Characteristics of a critical thinker
● Have a passionate drive for critical thinking standards
● Be sensitive to what he sees, what he hears, what he reads, etc.
● Be skilled at understanding, analysing, and evaluating arguments
● Reason logically and draw appropriate conclusions
● Acknowledge his own strengths and weaknesses
● Be open-minded