WGU C168 Critical Thinking & Logic Module 4: Identifying Assumptions, Biases, and Fallacious Thinking Questions And Answers Graded A. Latest updates

WGU C168 Critical Thinking & Logic Module 4: Identifying Assumptions, Biases, and Fallacious Thinking Questions And Answers Graded A. Latest updates Inert Information - answers Taking into the mind information that though memorized we do not understand We think we understand this . information but we don't and can't use it Activated Ignorance - answers •Taking into the mind and actively using information that is false although we mistakenly think it is true •We mislearn or partially learn information or accept illogical beliefs and then on them Activated Knowledge - answers •Taking into the mind , and actively using information that is true and also when understood insightfully leads us by implication to more and more knowledge •We bring significant ideas and knowledge into the mind and are able to apply them systematically to new situations Clear - answers Unclear Relevant - answers Irrelevant Fairly gathered and reported - answers Biased Accurate - answers Inaccurate Adequate - answers Insufficient Consistently Applied - answers Inconsistently applied Assumptions - answers are the unstated or hidden beliefs that support our explicit reasoning about something inference or conclusion - answers is the outcome of reasoning Justified - answers Unjustified Consistent - answers Contradictory Uncritical Persons - answers Intellectually unskilled thinkers Skilled Manipulators - answers Weak sense criticall thinkers Fair Minded Critical Persons - answers Strong sense critical thinkers Description of Uncritical Persons - answers •Socially conditioned beliefs •Personal beliefs often grounded in prejudice •Motivated by irrationality personal vanity intellectual arrogance •Prone to emotional counter attacks when thinking is questioned •See themselves as " good " and opponents as " evil " Description of Skilled Manipulators - answers •Skilled in manipulation •Pursue self - interest •Employ manipulation , domination , demagoguery •Try to keep other points of view from being heard Fair - Minded Critical Persons - answers •Reject manipulation and controlling others •Combine critical thinking skills with desire to serve public good •Want all points of view expressed •Want manipulative persuasion exposed Fallacy - answers Is an error in reasoning ad hominem - answers Dismissing an argument by attacking the person who offers it rather than by refuting its reasoning appeal to authority - answers Justifying support for a position by citing an esteemed or well - known figure who supports it . An appeal to authority does not address the merit of the position . appeal to experience - answers Claiming to speak with the " voice of experience " in support of an argument ( even when that experience may not be relevant ) . appeal to fear - answers Citing a threat or possibility of a frightening outcome as the reason for supporting an argument This threat can be physical or emotional : the idea is to invoke fear . This is sometimes termed " scare tactics " appeal to popularity / popular passions - answers Citing majority sentiment or popular opinion as the reason for supporting a claim . It assumes that any position favored by the larger crowd must be true or worthy . attacking evidence - answers Discrediting the underlying evidence for an argument and thereby questioning its validity . begging the question - answers Asserting a conclusion that is assumed in the reasoning . The reason given to support the conclusion restates the conclusion . denying inconsistencies - answers Refusing to admit contradictions or inconsistencies when making an argument or defending a position . either - or - answers Assuming only two alternatives when , in reality , there are more than two . It implies that one of two outcomes is inevitable - either x or y . evading questions - answers Avoiding direct and truthful answers to difficult questions through diversionary tactics , vagueness , or deliberately confusing or complex responses . faulty analogy - answers Drawing an invalid comparison between things for the purpose of either supporting or refuting some position . A faulty analogy suggests that because two things are alike in some respect , they must be alike in other respects . hard - cruel - world argument - answers Justifying illegal or unethical practices by arguing that they are necessary to confront a greater evil or threat . hasty generalization - answers Inferring a general proposition about something based on too small a sample or an unrepresentative sample . red herring - answers Introducing an irrelevant point or topic to divert attention from the issue at hand . It is a tactic for confusing the point under debate . search for perfect solution - answers Asserting that a solution is not worth adopting because it does not fix the problem completely slippery slope - answers Suggesting that a step or action , once taken , will lead inevitably to similar steps or actions with presumably undesirable consequences . The fallacy is invoked to justify not taking a given initial step or action , lest it lead us down the " slippery slope . " straw man - answers Distorting or exaggerating an opponent's argument so that it might be more easily attacked . thrown - in statistics - answers Using irrelevant , misleading , or questionable statistics to support an argument or defend a position . two wrongs make a right - answers Defending or justifying our wrong position or conduct by pointing to a similar wrong done by someone else .