Critical Thinking and Logic

Critical Thinking and Logic Define Critical Thinking is the art of thinking about thinking while thinking in order to make thinking better. Richard Paul and Linda Elder in Critical Thinking: Tools for Taking Charge of Your Learning and Your Life Critical thinking comprises which three interlinking dimensions: 1 Analyzing one's own thinking- breaking it down into its component parts. 2 Evaluating one's own thinking- identifying its weaknesses while recognizing its strengths. 3 Improving one's own thinking- reconstructing it to make it better. Impediments to sound thinking include Making generalizations unsupported by evidence. Letting a stereotype* shape our thinking. Viewing the world from one fixed vantage point. Forming false beliefs. Dismissing or attacking viewpoints that conflict with our own. Thinking deceptively about our own experiences. Critical thinking is characteristically: self-directed self-disciplined self-monitored self-corrective egocentrism the tendency to view everything in relationship to oneself sociocentrism or the assumption that one's own social group is inherently superior to all others First-order thinking (ordinary thinking) Spontaneous and non-reflective Contains insight, prejudice, good and bad reasoning Indiscriminately combined Second-order thinking (critical thinking) First-order thinking that is consciously realized (i.e., analyzed, assessed, and reconstructed) Weak Sense Critical Thinking Ignore the flaws in their own thinking Often seek to win an argument through intellectual trickery or deceit. makes no good faith effort to consider alternative viewpoints. Lacks fair-mindedness. Strong sense critical Thinking A consistent pursuit of what is fair and just. strive to be ethical Will entertain arguments with which they do not agree Change their views when confronted with superior reasoning think reasonably and not manipulatively To be fair-minded is to consider all relevant opinions equally without regard to one's own sentiments or selfish interests. It is also to do so without reference to the sentiments or selfish interests of one's friends, community, or nation. Which of the following statements best defines critical thinking? thinking about thinking in order to make thinking better Critical thinking involves_______ one's own thinking analyzing, evaluating, and improving Which of the following is not a bad habit of thought? reasoning from assumptions that are not one's own Which term means the tendency to view everything in relationship to oneself? egocentrism In thinking through a problem, the critical thinker does all of the following except gathers information that supports his/her presuppositions Another term for critical thinking is: second-order thinking Hiding or distorting evidence illustrates which of the following? weak-sense thinking Critical thinking values ________ of thought over ______ of thought. depth/speed Bringing an unbiased perspective to all relevant viewpoints exemplifies which of the following? fair-mindedness The ability to reconstruct others' viewpoints exemplifies which of the following traits? intellectual empathy To admit flaws in one's own thinking is an expression of: intellectual integrity The opposite of intellectual conformity is: intellectual autonomy Which of the following is not a characteristic of second-order thinking? It relies on intuition. Which of the following is not among the suggested beginning tactics for improving your thinking? Handle multiple problems per day. Which of the mind's basic functions evaluates the extent to which life's events are either positive or negative? feeling Which of the following correctly reflects the relationship between the standards of thinking, the elements of thinking, and intellectual traits? The standards must be applied to the elements as the critical thinker learns to develop intellectual traits. What are the elements of critical thinking? Purposes, Questions, Points of View, Information, Inferences, Concepts, Implications, Assumptions Acknowledging different sources of point of view is an argument for intellectual relativism. True or false? False Correct. Acknowledging that different sources shape point of view is not an argument for intellectual relativity, i.e., the claim that nothing is provable because everything is relative. Observing things from a particular point of view does not render one unable to distinguish accurate from inaccurate statements. An inference is something we presuppose. True or false? False Correct. An inference is a mental step by which one concludes that something is true based on something else being true or appearing to be so. An assumption is something we presuppose. nine fundamental intellectual standards: Clarity Accuracy Precision Relevance Depth Breadth Logic Significance Fairness his is not a finite list of standards. There are many standards a person might use to measure thinking; however, these nine are the most fundamental. Intellectual standards require that assumptions be acknowledged and stated clearly and concisely. True or false?