Powerpoint #12 - Argumentation and Critical Thinking

Question 1

What is argumentation?

Answer 1

an effective way to improve knowledge and come to an agreement

Question 2

What is critical thinking?

Answer 2

a way to make arguments self-correcting

Question 3

What is eristic dialogue?

Answer 3

social debate where the goal is to win the argument, not improve understanding or reach mutual conclusion

Question 4

What are the elements of a good argument?

Answer 4

1. Final Claim
2. Counterclaim
3. Supporting Argument
4. Rebuttal

Question 5

What is a final claim?

Answer 5

conclusion one participant argues is true

Question 6

What is a counterclaim?

Answer 6

alternate claim, oftentimes opposes final claim

Question 7

What is a supporting argument? What are the parts of a supporting argument?

Answer 7

facts supporting a claim

1. evidence: facts supporting a claim
2. pseudo-evidence: limiting credibility of alternate claim
3. opinion: statement of belief
4. warrant: statement connecting data and claim
5. backing: credentials

Question 8

What is a rebuttal?

Answer 8

statements challenging a claim/arguments in support of a claim

Question 9

What are Pragma-Dialectics?

Answer 9

series of rules for arguments that, if followed, should lead to rational discourse

Question 10

What are the rules for good arguments?

Answer 10

1. All claims must be defensible
2. Stay focused and relevant
3. Clarify
4. Sound reasoning
5. Question assumptions
6. Acknowledge valid points made by other party

Question 11

What does it mean to be critical?

Answer 11

• be independent
• be reflexive (look back at own work/experiences)
• be open-minded
• be focused

Question 12

What does it mean to be thinking?

Answer 12

• blend abstract and concrete
• systematic
• discerning
• capable

Question 13

What is Independent Thinking?

Answer 13

• -> requires self-reflection/self-criticism
• meta thinking: thinking about your thinking while you’re thinking, to make your thinking clearer/more accurate/more defensible

Question 14

What is Open-Minded Thinking?

Answer 14

–> thinking that is open to possibilities, seeks out info, willing to trust logic/empirical data

Question 15

What are signs of Open-Minded Thinking?

Answer 15

1. acknowledging others perspectives
2. anticipating arguments that may challenge your view
3. respecting others perspectives
4. avoiding basic dualism (tendency to only see right/wrong, black/white)

Question 16

What is Focused Thinking?

Answer 16

1. question/theme identified clearly
2. sub-issues identified
3. implicit issues made explicit

Question 17

What is Systematic Thinking?

Answer 17

–> when a person puts thoughts in context and examines implications as they choose their position

Question 18

What is Abstract Reasoning?

Answer 18

–> the ability to reason at many different levels of abstraction and generalize from particular to abstract

Question 19

What are the two forms of Abstract Reasoning?

Answer 19

1. interpretation: recognize abstract concepts exemplified by examples
2. generalization: recognize when something specific represents general principals

Question 20

What is Blooms Taxonomy?

Answer 20

recognize there are different levels of reasoning

Question 21

What is Discerning Thinking?

Answer 21

• -> critical thinking requires avoiding relativism (view that different views are necessarily equally valid)
• different views deserve respect, but not all are valid

Question 22

Why should you be discerning?

Answer 22

• nothing can be known completely

- knowledge = tentative and subject to revision based on new evidence and interpretation

Question 23

What is Capable Thinking?

Answer 23

–> exercise of logical rational skills, analytic skills, and the ability to think clearly and effectively

Question 24

What is Causal Reasoning?

Answer 24

• multiple causes: multiple causes to most things
• causality vs. association: two variables being correlated doesn’t mean one causes another
• causal direction: whether X causes Y is not always obvious and may have to be examined carefully

Question 25

What are the eight Logical Fallacies?

Answer 25

1. False Dichotomy
2. Hasty Generalization
3. Post Hoc Argument
4. Slippery Slope
5. Affirming the Consequence
6. False Analogy
7. Genetic Fallacies
8. Ad Populum

Question 26

What is a False Dichotomy?

Answer 26

arguer makes it appear there are only two choices, eliminates one, making it appear the other must be selected

Question 27

What is a Hasty Generalization?

Answer 27

when someone makes assumptions/generalizations about an entire category based on only a few cases (too few/biased)

Question 28

What is a Post Hoc Argument?

Answer 28

argument that because Y follows X, Y must have caused X (could be a coincident)

Question 29

What is a Slippery Slope?

Answer 29

asserts that if something is done it will result in a series of increasingly dire consequences

Question 30

What is Affirming the Consequence?

Answer 30

argues that because the consequent of the statement is true, the ancient must be true too (ex. passing test = brilliance, Joe passed test–>he must be brilliant)

Question 31

What is a False Analogy?

Answer 31

when two things are argued to be similar and hence a property of one is also a property of another (ex. college students are like high school students so they shouldn’t be expected to logically reason at a high level)

Question 32

What are Genetic Fallacies?

Answer 32

argue against an idea based upon it’s source

• ad hominem argument: an argument “against the person” not believing a conclusion based on the argument, but on the arguer
• appeal to authority: accepting argument based on source

Question 33

What is Ad Populum?

Answer 33

something must be true because most people believe it

-“appeal to popularity”