Critical Thinking Skills Flashcards
Lec 11 & lec 14
Review of what is critical thinking?
the ability to think clearly and rationally about what to believe or do. requires carefulness, reflection, and independence. assessing if our views are adequately defended and cogent.
What is vagueness?
lacking sharp boundaries btwn multiple meanings. so blurred lines. ie smart, could mean many different things.
What is ambiguity?
2 or more distinct meanings and uncertainty which is implied. so the way smthn is worded has more than one meaning. ie go to the bank. can be lexical - homonyms ie fine. referential - indecipherable who is being referred to. syntactic - as a result of grammar multiple interpretations are possible.
What is the principle of charity?
suggests we should always interpret an argument to make it the most reasonable and compelling argument possible given what the passage says. so attempting to balance modest charity with accuracy. so being fair when evaluating.
Why should the principle of charity be used?
encourages communication, facilitates trust, gives. the benefit of the doubt to the author.
Review epistemic responsibility and what the lack of such comes from?
being accountable for knowledge and beliefs, choosing what to accept and reject and what to feel ambiguous about. lack comes from; uncritical acceptance, disinterest in engaging, and choosing to remain ignorant or oblivious.
What is validity?
refers to the arguments form. formal logic.
What is soundness?
refers to a valid argument with premises that are acceptable.
What is cogency?
refers to arguments that are clear, logical, and convincing.
What are the three ways to ensure our premises are relevant?
- induction 2. deduction 3. analogy
What is induction/inductive reasoning?
knowledge gained through repeated experiences and observations. involves generalizing from many to one under the assumption that observed regularities will continue. moving from a particular case to a general principle/theme. from individ cases to predicting future cases. looking for a pattern then generalizing, based on empirical evidence/scientific method.
What is deduction/deductive reasoning?
moving from general to the specific. from broad premises to spec conclusions. deducing facts from accepted facts. based on formal logic and reasoning.
What is logical space?
if the premises are true (in logical space) then the conclusion must be true (in logical space). so what as a matter of logic is or might be possible without contradiction. ie its possible i could jump 121cm like michael jordan.
What is factual space?
what as a matter of fact is true. ie i cannot jump 121cm, i can jump 10 cm.
What are some examples of logically possible and impossible?
possible; happy octagons or green and orange striped zebras. impossible; 3 sided octagon or a green and orange striped zebra thats not green and orange.
What are some examples of factually possible and impossible?
possible; 8 foot tall person or jumping higher than the world record. impossible; 40 foot tall person or jumping higher than the CN tower.
What are deductive arguments?
in a deductively valid argument it is logically impossible for the conclusion to be false of the premises are logically true. so if the argument form is valid then the conclusion is true. the conclusion logically follows the premises regardless of the truth of the premises. deductive arguments are valid in logical space. valid arguments arent necessarily sound and can be gibberish.
How does one assess the strength of an argument?
via cogency, so assessing the adequacy, relevance, and sufficiency of the premises intended to support the conclusion.
What is the strength of arguments by analogy determined by?
number of instances/comparison points. number of similarities. relevant similarities. number of dissimilarities. relevant dissimilarities.
What is a self defeating argument?
arguing against yourself, accidental self destruction. the statement you make goes against itself. ie relativism
What is relativism?
no statements are universally true for everyone at all times and in all places. but to assert this principle is to deny it. so the view that truth is subjective and depends on what you believe, not how the world works.
What are the problems with relativism?
could not argue that our moral beliefs are superior to any moral beliefs. would have to accept horrible acts occurring in society if that society deemed them ok. a self-defeating position.
What is philosophical skepticism?
the view that what we know with certainty is much less than we think we know.
What is reflective equilibrium?
a thinking process you engage in to help determine your position. thinking about your thinking. incorporating and balancing your convictions and your beliefs with the relevant facts and moral principles in order to determine your conclusion/position.
What are considered judgments?
when you spent time thinking about your decision ie reflective equilibrium. goal is for considered judgments to be aligned with your core beliefs and core values, cogent, the position you can defend as the best option.
Is critical thinking compatible with creativity?
maybe, what if when putting arguments into standard form we neglect NB info.
What are Southworths concerns with argumentative essays?
argumentation stifles open mindedness through promoting self confirmation bias (bc just strengthening our own arguments). complexity papers may be more effective than argumentation bc identifying both sides, and looking at complexities of a problem.
