Critical Thinking Flashcards
Fundamentalism
Rigidity and inflexibility in one’s beliefs
Why fundamentalists like critical thinking
It can be used to challenge facts e.g. from the Bible
Critical thinking
Opposite of fundamentalism, how we think not what we think
Logical thinking
Can’t be mapped onto real-life easily as it is abstract
Scientific thinking
Can’t be mapped onto real-life easily as it lacks ecological validity
What our thoughts about things are based on
What we notice and how we interpret it
Example of what we notice
How magic works
The effect of magic
What the audience sees
The method of magic
What the audience misses
Misdirection
Used to direct attention away from the method and towards the effect
How to direct attention
Novelty, movement, eyes, voice, body language
How to manage suspicion
Justifying method (waving a wand) and misrepresenting the effect (invisible ball)
Criteria for a miracle
The event is impossible, and confirmed/seen by many
Example of a magic miracle
The Indian Rope Trick
What is a paradox?
A statement or claim with some kind of contradiction
River of Heraclitus paradox
“You cannot step into the same river twice” - depends on meaning of river
The ship of Theseus paradox
“If every part is replaced, is it still the same ship?” - depends on meaning of ship but also ambiguous boundary of new version vs. new thing
The paradox of the heap
“If you remove grains one at a time, when is it no longer a heap?” - depends on ambiguous boundary
Problem of paradoxes
Ambiguity of meaning
Formal Logic
Form of reasoning, based on deduction, concerned with validity
What is a syllogism?
Premise 1 (x) + Premise 2 (y) = Conclusion (z)
Rule of a syllogism
If z must follow from x + y, then it is valid (based on form not content)
Example of a valid syllogism
All men are mortal; Socrates is a man; Socrates is mortal
Example of an invalid syllogism
Some Scots are Glaswegians; Some Glaswegians are funny; Some Scots are funny
Example of explicit claim
“According to a recent poll…”
Example of implicit claim
The meaning of terms
Equivocation fallacy
Equates two different things e.g. a ham sandwich and eternal happiness
Reification fallacy
Treats a concept as a real thing e.g. “Racism is hard-wired into the brain”
What is a fallacy?
Mistaken belief (either ambiguous or irrelevant)
Ad hominem fallacy
Attacks the person, not the claim e.g. anti-vaxxers
Tu quoque or whataboutism fallacy
Responds to claim with counter-claim e.g. government actions
Fallacious arguments
Not a logical response but have purpose, e.g. to undermine to deflect
Example of a fallacious argument
“alternative facts” in Trump’s White House
What to question about a real-world claim?
Meaning, basis and purpose
