The 12 Principles of Critical Thinking Flashcards
The Fallibility Principle
Acknowledge you can be wrong.
The Truth-Seeking Principle
Prioritize truth and accuracy over winning arguments or defending existing beliefs.
The Clarity Principle
Use precise language and well-defined concepts to ensure effective communication and reasoning.
The Burden-of-Proof Principle
The person making a claim must provide sufficient evidence or reasoning to support it.
The Principle of Charity
Interpret and present others’ arguments in their strongest and most reasonable form, rather than misrepresenting or distorting them.
The Structural Principle
Create arguments that are logically valid, internally coherent, and free from contradictions.
The Relevance Principle
Ensure that all components of an argument meaningfully contribute to the conclusion, avoiding distractions or unrelated points.
The Acceptability Principle
Premises in an argument must be credible, reasonable, and likely acceptable to a rational audience.
The Sufficiency Principle
Premises must provide enough evidence to adequately support the argument’s conclusion.
The Rebuttal Principle
Address objections and counterarguments to strengthen one’s position and engage in fair, constructive dialogue.
The Suspension-of-Judgment Principle
Withhold conclusions when evidence is incomplete, conflicting, or insufficient, fostering intellectual humility and thoughtful reasoning.
The Resolution Principle
Recognize when a debate has been adequately addressed and conclude discussions on agreed-upon criteria.
