D265: Critical Thinking: Section 1 Exam Questions
and Correct Answers
Why is it important to think critically?
Individuals can evaluate information objectively, consider multiple perspectives, and analyze
complex situations more effectively
Which definition(s) of critical thinking are most closely aligned to your current
thinking?
The definition about "knowing oneself enough to avoid biases and errors of thought"
describes me the best
Which definition(s) of critical thinking do you need more practice or awareness
around?
A definition I need to improve on is "understanding arguments, reasons, and evidence"
Being curious and thinking creatively
not believing things are simple and settled, being willing to go the next step and think about
all of the possible positions and arguments before settling into a position.
Separating the thinker from the position:
being able to discuss a position without attacking or judging the person holding the position,
without getting caught up in our own attachment to the position or its antithesis, and without
having our identities wrapped up in a particular viewpoint or opinion.
Knowing oneself enough to avoid biases and errors of thoughts
Being aware of the flawed patterns of reasoning we are disposed to engage in, being aware of
cognitive biases and mental heuristics (rough rules that work well enough to survive don't
work in many cases) that we're prone as a species to have, all in the interest of counteracting
these biases and flaws
Having intellectual honesty, humility, and charity
, Being honest about what we know and how we know it, what evidence we have and what
questions are not yet settled; being humble in recognizing the vast number of things we don't
yet know or understand and in recognizing how very difficult it is to truly know anything at
all and so recognizing that the standards are high and we, most of the time, don't meet them
(and that's okay); and being charitable or having the disposition to attribute the best intentions
and most sophisticated positions and arguments that we can imagine to own opponents in
arguments
Understanding arguments, reasons, and evidence
thinking carefully about thinking, about arguments and positions.
What new understanding do you have around propositions?
Any proposition may be affirmed or denied
Why do you think it is fundamental to understand the definition for propositions?
Proposition mirrors the world and explains how world is arranged in an orderly manner
Propositions
Statements that can be true or false.
Non-Propositions
Not statements about matters of fact. They do not make a claim that can be true or false
Exhort
Let's go get dinner! Let's go hiking on Tuesday!
Command
Go to the store later to buy me some cheese. Don't do that.
Plead/Request
Would you please stop that? Please read me a bedtime story!
Question
What is the capital of Florida? How much do pineapples cost?
and Correct Answers
Why is it important to think critically?
Individuals can evaluate information objectively, consider multiple perspectives, and analyze
complex situations more effectively
Which definition(s) of critical thinking are most closely aligned to your current
thinking?
The definition about "knowing oneself enough to avoid biases and errors of thought"
describes me the best
Which definition(s) of critical thinking do you need more practice or awareness
around?
A definition I need to improve on is "understanding arguments, reasons, and evidence"
Being curious and thinking creatively
not believing things are simple and settled, being willing to go the next step and think about
all of the possible positions and arguments before settling into a position.
Separating the thinker from the position:
being able to discuss a position without attacking or judging the person holding the position,
without getting caught up in our own attachment to the position or its antithesis, and without
having our identities wrapped up in a particular viewpoint or opinion.
Knowing oneself enough to avoid biases and errors of thoughts
Being aware of the flawed patterns of reasoning we are disposed to engage in, being aware of
cognitive biases and mental heuristics (rough rules that work well enough to survive don't
work in many cases) that we're prone as a species to have, all in the interest of counteracting
these biases and flaws
Having intellectual honesty, humility, and charity
, Being honest about what we know and how we know it, what evidence we have and what
questions are not yet settled; being humble in recognizing the vast number of things we don't
yet know or understand and in recognizing how very difficult it is to truly know anything at
all and so recognizing that the standards are high and we, most of the time, don't meet them
(and that's okay); and being charitable or having the disposition to attribute the best intentions
and most sophisticated positions and arguments that we can imagine to own opponents in
arguments
Understanding arguments, reasons, and evidence
thinking carefully about thinking, about arguments and positions.
What new understanding do you have around propositions?
Any proposition may be affirmed or denied
Why do you think it is fundamental to understand the definition for propositions?
Proposition mirrors the world and explains how world is arranged in an orderly manner
Propositions
Statements that can be true or false.
Non-Propositions
Not statements about matters of fact. They do not make a claim that can be true or false
Exhort
Let's go get dinner! Let's go hiking on Tuesday!
Command
Go to the store later to buy me some cheese. Don't do that.
Plead/Request
Would you please stop that? Please read me a bedtime story!
Question
What is the capital of Florida? How much do pineapples cost?
