ssh chapter 1

Question 1

critical thinking

Answer 1

reasonable, reflective thinking aimed at deciding what to believe or what to do

Question 2

reasonable thinking

Answer 2

• sensitive to methods and standards

- demands that we have good reasons for making our decisions

Question 3

reflective thinking

Answer 3

we may need to analyze a problem into parts

we may need to find the best method to solve it

Question 4

argument

Answer 4

a series of statements, some of which (premises) are meant to provide logical support for another (conclusion)

Question 5

knowledge

Answer 5

a justified, true belief

Question 6

autonomy

Answer 6

the ability to make up ones own mind about what to believe or what to do

Question 7

truth

Answer 7

we don’t need a definition of truth

Question 8

realist

Answer 8

i) there are truths in a subject matter

ii) what those truths are is independent of what anybody thinks they are

Question 9

relativist

Answer 9

i) there are truths in a subject matter
ii) what they are depends (in some way) on what we (or someone) take those truths to be
- they insist that those facts are what they are because of our beliefs about them

Question 10

subjective realist

Answer 10

thinks that the facts in an area are whatever any one individual takes them to be
- true for you but not for me

Question 11

social relativist

Answer 11

thinks that facts in an area are whatever the majority of the society or culture takes them to be
- true for us, even if not for you or them

Question 12

nihilist

Answer 12

holds that there are no truths at all about a subject matter

-eg/ not believing in Santa Claus

Question 13

The Argument from Disagreement

Answer 13

i) there is only considerable sincere disagreement over moral facts
ii) if there is only considerable sincere disagreement over moral facts in some area, then relativism is true of that subject area
iii) so relativism is true of moral facts

Question 14

valid argument

Answer 14

if the premises are true, then the conclusion would have to be true too

Question 15

freedom of belief

Answer 15

being able to form our beliefs free from outside interference and coercion is fundamental to human fulfilment
- it does NOT mean that we don’t need good reasons for our beliefs

Question 16

Justification

Answer 16

a belief is justified if it is based or grounded in good reasons, that the believer has adequate or satisfactory reason to hold or sustain her belief

Question 17

producing reasons

Answer 17

ones that make you believe something in the first place

Question 18

sustaining reasons

Answer 18

ones that your belief is now based on

Question 19

emotional reasons

Answer 19

they can involve the believer himself OR be based on one’s emotional connection to their community, culture, or heritage

Question 20

pragmatic reasons

Answer 20

make it easier for us to achieve our goals or objectives

- maintaining this belief simplifies some part of our practical life

Question 21

epistemic reasons

Answer 21

reasons that indicate that what we believe is true, that it captures the facts properly, and they need no special bearing on our emotions or practical challenges

Question 22

end

Answer 22

an action’s intended goals

Question 23

means

Answer 23

the steps to achieve a goal

Question 24

sufficient reasons

Answer 24

you can’t use a reason with some evidence, you need to have enough evidence

Question 25

acceptable reasons

Answer 25

some sources of evidence are better than others for certain kinds of beliefs

Question 26

overridden

Answer 26

when strong, contradictory evidence is provided against weaker evidence, it overrides the weaker evidence

Question 27

undermined

Answer 27

when we have good reason to think that our evidence comes from an untrustworthy source

Question 28

prejudice

Answer 28

to form judgement or belief about something or someone before all of the facts are in, before one has enough evidence
- when a belief is not based on good epistemic reasons

Question 29

testing for conceptual independence

Answer 29

whenever a concept or problem has elements or parts, ask: how are those parts related to one another

Question 30

think twice; decide once

Answer 30

it is better to make sure that one has enough of the right kind of evidence before one makes a decision

Question 31

thinking critically about ourselves

Answer 31

practice critical thinking skills and strategies by reflecting on ourselves and our decisions and values

Question 32

thinking critically in the classroom

Answer 32

see where critical thinking fits in with your studies

- the only way to succeed in your studies is to study hard, which can be helped by critical thinking

Question 33

thinking critically at work

Answer 33

think critically in day-to-day work as well as broader organizational performance and plans