Unit 1 (Intro to Critical Thinking) Flashcards
What is an argument?
An argument is a set of statements, which includes: premises and conclusion.
What is standard form?
When the premises and conclusion is written on their own lines, numbered clearly and concisely.
What are the three main steps of argument analysis?
- Identifying an argument
- Reconstructing an argument
- Evaluating an argument
What is identifying an argument?
Figuring out if the author is even making an argument at all.
What is reconstructing an argument?
Figuring out the argument the author is making and putting it into standard form
What is evaluating an argument and what does it concern?
Figuring out if the argument is strong. Not looking at if the argument is convincing (rhetorical power) or if it is interesting (literary merit), instead looking for rational strength.
What is rational strength?
When it provides good reason to believe the conclusion.
What are the 6 ways that people deal with arguments?
The credulous person, the person of contradiction. the dogmatist, the skeptic, relativists, and rational thinkers.
From the 6 ways people deal with arguments which one do we want to be?
Rational thinkers
Why care about critical thinking?
Helps us:
- get to the truth
- be fair and rational
- gain knowledge
What are the three types of sentences?
Interrogative (questions), imperative (commands), and declarative (statements)
Out of the three types of sentences which can be true or false?
Declarative
Many philosophers think truth has to do with …
Correspondence to the world
What is the basic correspondence principle?
A sentence is true = things are really that way or it corresponds to the world
why should we avoid phrases like “true for me” and “true for you”
Because then we are being subjective and expressing our own beliefs on the argument. We need to avoid them as it confuses the while situation and makes it hard to get to the truth.
