Standards and Elements Combine

Question 0

We reason to some goal or objective whenever we reason. If our purpose is faulty (e.g., confused or muddled), our reasoning in pursuit of it will suffer. Always state your purpose precisely.

Strive to be clear about your purpose in all situations.

Pose questions that sharpen your focus on your purpose.
Is my purpose significant?
Is it justifiable?
Does it contradict other goals I have?

Answer 0

PURPOSE

Question 1

All reasoning involves at least one question to answer or issue to resolve. Assess your ability to formulate the question at hand clearly.

Determine whether the question is important and answerable.

Ask yourself if you understand what’s required to settle the question.

Pose questions that sharpen your focus on the question at issue.
What precisely is the question?
Is it the most fundamental one at issue?
Is there more than one question that I need to address in order to effectively reason through the problem?

Answer 1

QUESTION AT ISSUE

Question 2

We reason within some point of view or frame of reference whenever we reason.

Possible flaws in our point of view
Too narrow
Founded on false or misleading information
Embodies contradictions
Strive for a point of view that considers opposing points of view with fairness.

Strive for a point of view that is broad, flexible, and justifiable.

Weigh alternative points of view when you reason through an issue.

State all points of view that are relevant to the issue at hand (and state them clearly, precisely, and accurately).

Pose questions that sharpen your focus on your point of view.
From what vantage point am I viewing this issue?
Am I so rooted to my point of view that I can’t see the issue from other points of view?
Must I consider alternative points of view in order to reason effectively through the issue at hand?

Answer 2

POINT OF VIEW

Question 3

We use information whenever we reason.

Various forms
Data
Facts
Experiences and observations
Word of mouth
Utilize only evidence that is clear, fair, and accurate.

Assess whether information you use in reasoning is relevant to the issue at hand and sufficient to achieve your purpose.

Assess whether you are distorting information to fit your own point of view.

Pose questions that sharpen your focus on information in your reasoning.
What is the most important information I need?
What (if any) alternative information sources do I need to consider?
How can I determine if the information I’m using is accurate?
Is all of the information I’m using relevant to the issue at hand?

Answer 3

INFORMATION

Question 4

All reasoning takes form in concepts.

Concepts include the theories, principles, axioms, and rules implicit in our reasoning. Assess the extent to which concepts in your reasoning are
clear
precise
relevant to the issue at hand
distorted by your point of view
Pose questions that sharpen your focus on concepts used in your reasoning.
What is the most fundamental concept applied to the issue at hand?
Are my concepts deep and broad enough to do intellectual justice to the question or problem?

Answer 4

CONCEPTS

Question 5

All reasoning begins with our assumptions (i.e., our presuppositions, or what we take for granted as true). Assess your ability to identify/recognize assumptions.

Assess your ability to analyze assumptions (yours and others’) according to relevant intellectual standards.
Clear or unclear?
Justifiable or unjustifiable (in the context of the issue at hand)?
Consistent or contradictory?
Logical or illogical?
State your assumptions clearly and precisely.

Answer 5

ASSUMPTIONS

Question 6

Implications follow from our reasoning whenever we reason.

That which extends beyond whatever conclusion we reach through our reasoning. Assess your ability to identify/recognize implications.

The critical thinker strives to:
grasp implications wherever they occur
be able to trace the logical implications and consequences of reasoning
Assess implications for their clarity, depth, breadth, and significance.

Answer 6

IMPLICATIONS

Question 7

Steps of mind by which we conclude that something is true based on something else being true (or appearing to be so).

All reasoning proceeds by steps in the following construct: “Because this is so, that also is so (or probably is so).” Learn to identify whenever you or someone else has made an inference.

State inferences clearly and precisely.

Pose questions that sharpen your focus on inferences in reasoning.
What are the key inferences?
What assumptions are the inferences based upon?
Are the inferences justifiable?
Are the inferences logical?
Even if logical, are the inferences relevant and important to the question at issue?

Answer 7

INFERENCES