Chapters 1

Question 1

What is critical thinking

Answer 1

critical thinking is reasonable and reflective thinking aimed at deciding what to believe and what to do

Question 2

why is critical thinking reflective

Answer 2

because it requires us to reflect on our methods and strategies while doing the critical thinking

Question 3

what is knowledge

Answer 3

justification, truth and belief

Question 4

what are the three attitudes of truth

Answer 4

realism
relativism
nihilism

Question 5

what do realists believe

Answer 5

that there is either a right or a wrong answer. that there is one fact

Question 6

what is realism good for

Answer 6

biology, chemistry, astronomy

Question 7

what do nihilists believe

Answer 7

that there are no truths

Question 8

what is nihilism good for

Answer 8

fiction and astrology

Question 9

what do relativists believe

Answer 9

that there are truths but they are dependent on what someone believes

Question 10

what is relativism good for

Answer 10

morality

Question 11

what is an argument

Answer 11

an argument is a series of statements some of which (the premises) are meant to provide logical support for another (the conclusion)

Question 12

what is theoretical reasoning

Answer 12

Deciding what to believe involves reasoning about what the facts are

Question 13

what is practical reasoning

Answer 13

deciding what to do involves reasoning about what and how to do it

Question 14

what is an open-ended problem

Answer 14

when it is not clear from the beginning (outset) what would count as the solution and may require thinking hard about the problem itself

Question 15

what is an example of an open-ended problem

Answer 15

poverty

Question 16

what is emotional reasoning

Answer 16

reasoning that ties people together emotionally

Question 17

what is pragmatic reasoning

Answer 17

reasons tied with benefits that come from believing

ex: the athlete and coach scenario

Question 18

what is epistemic reasoning

Answer 18

reasons to think that a belief is true or accurate and that it captures fact properly.
because someone has evidence

Question 19

what is freedom of belief

Answer 19

being able to form our beliefs free from outside interference and coercion

does not mean that it is reasonable to believe without good reasons. It is an attitude of acceptance

ex: believing, assuming, presupposing or accepting that there is milk in the fridge

Question 20

what is producing reasons

Answer 20

the reasons as to why you believe something in the first place

Question 21

what is sustaining reasons

Answer 21

the reasons why you continue to believe and what your beliefs are based on

Question 22

what is autonomy

Answer 22

the direct conflict, the indirect conflict