D265 - WGU - Critical Thinking -
Reason and Evidence
PROPOSITIONS - ANS Are statements that can be true or false
NON-PROPOSITONS - ANS Are sentences that are not statements about matters
of fact or fiction. They do not make a claim that can be true or false.
SIMPLE PROPOSITIONS - ANS Have no internal logic structure, meaning whether
they are true or false does not depend on whether a part of them is true or false.
They are simply true or false on their own. (Example: Harry Potter wears glasses.
The sky is blue.)
COMPLEX PROPOSITIONS - ANS Have internal logic structure, meaning they are
composed of simple propositions. Whether they are true or false depends on
whether their parts are true or false. (Example: The sky is blue, but it does not look
blue to me right now. The cat ate the food, but he did not like it. The GDP of Canada
is either $3 trillion or $12 trillion.)
Words used to identify Independent Propositions - ANS AND, OR, EITHER, BUT,
IF, THEN.
CONCLUSION INDICATORS - ANS THEREFORE, SO, IT FOLLOWS THAT,
HENCE, THUS, ENTAILS THAT, WE MAY CONCLUDE THAT, IMPLIES THAT,
WHEREFORE, AND AS A RESULT.
PREMISE INDICATORS - ANS BECAUSE, FOR, GIVEN THAT, AS, SINCE, AS
INDICATED BY.
DEDUCTIVE ARGUMENTS - ANS Arguments where the premises guarantee or
necessitate the conclusion.
-mathematical arguments, logical arguments, arguments from definition.
INDUCTION ARGUMENTS - ANS Arguments where the premises make the
conclusion probable.
-analogies, authority, causal inferences, extrapolations, etc.
INFERENCE TO THE BEST EXPLANATION OR ABDUCTION - ANS Arguments
where the best available explanation is chosen as the correct explanation.
FORMAL FALLACY - ANS Concerns the structure of an argument
INFORMAL FALLACY - ANS Concerns the informational content of an argument
A FORMAL FALLACY IS A TYPE OF - ANS Bad Argument Structure
, Which piece of information would be the most helpful to know in assessing the
credibility of a news story? - ANS Whether the name of the author and the
publication are identified
Which questions are most appropriate for evaluating the credibility of an information
source? - ANS Who funded it? & Does it try to get you to distrust other sources?
While researching a topic on the internet, a student encounters two different
websites, one of that looks more official than the other and includes tables, charts,
and statistics, while the other does not.
What is the line of reasoning this student should employ to determine which site is
more credible? - ANS It is not feasible to determine which site is more credible from
the information provided.
In which way should an information source be approached if it is stating that it is the
only source of real information and that other sources cannot be trusted? - ANS
Skeptically, because the source may lack credibility.
PRINCIPLE OF CHARITY - ANS The principle of charity suggests we should try to
understand ideas before criticizing them.
Which of the following are reasons for applying the principle of charity? - ANS It is
morally right to give others the benefit of the doubt.
It allows for a clearer understanding of the issue.
Smith is committed to the belief that technological advancement is always beneficial
and thus never detrimental to human life. Smith reads a carefully written and
sufficiently argued essay in which the author contends that the human adoption of
any new technology involves both advantages and disadvantages to its adopters.
Since Smith is a loyal technophile, Smith accepts the author's claims about the
advantages of technology but rejects the author's claims about the disadvantages of
technology.
Which cognitive bias is Smith demonstrating? - ANS Confirmation Bias
CONFIRMATION BIAS - ANS the tendency to interpret new evidence as
confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories.
COGNITIVE BIAS - ANS a systematic thought process caused by the tendency of
the human brain to simplify information processing through a filter of personal
experience and preferences.
HEURISTICS - ANS are practical rules of thumb that manifest as mental shortcuts
in judgment and decision-making.
Which sentence reflects strong critical thinking? - ANS "In any event, our purpose is
to better understand the relevant issues so that we may make an informed decision
on the topic."
Since inflation is rising rapidly, and because we are approaching the point at which
reversal is not possible, it follows that we need to institute a new economic policy,
Reason and Evidence
PROPOSITIONS - ANS Are statements that can be true or false
NON-PROPOSITONS - ANS Are sentences that are not statements about matters
of fact or fiction. They do not make a claim that can be true or false.
SIMPLE PROPOSITIONS - ANS Have no internal logic structure, meaning whether
they are true or false does not depend on whether a part of them is true or false.
They are simply true or false on their own. (Example: Harry Potter wears glasses.
The sky is blue.)
COMPLEX PROPOSITIONS - ANS Have internal logic structure, meaning they are
composed of simple propositions. Whether they are true or false depends on
whether their parts are true or false. (Example: The sky is blue, but it does not look
blue to me right now. The cat ate the food, but he did not like it. The GDP of Canada
is either $3 trillion or $12 trillion.)
Words used to identify Independent Propositions - ANS AND, OR, EITHER, BUT,
IF, THEN.
CONCLUSION INDICATORS - ANS THEREFORE, SO, IT FOLLOWS THAT,
HENCE, THUS, ENTAILS THAT, WE MAY CONCLUDE THAT, IMPLIES THAT,
WHEREFORE, AND AS A RESULT.
PREMISE INDICATORS - ANS BECAUSE, FOR, GIVEN THAT, AS, SINCE, AS
INDICATED BY.
DEDUCTIVE ARGUMENTS - ANS Arguments where the premises guarantee or
necessitate the conclusion.
-mathematical arguments, logical arguments, arguments from definition.
INDUCTION ARGUMENTS - ANS Arguments where the premises make the
conclusion probable.
-analogies, authority, causal inferences, extrapolations, etc.
INFERENCE TO THE BEST EXPLANATION OR ABDUCTION - ANS Arguments
where the best available explanation is chosen as the correct explanation.
FORMAL FALLACY - ANS Concerns the structure of an argument
INFORMAL FALLACY - ANS Concerns the informational content of an argument
A FORMAL FALLACY IS A TYPE OF - ANS Bad Argument Structure
, Which piece of information would be the most helpful to know in assessing the
credibility of a news story? - ANS Whether the name of the author and the
publication are identified
Which questions are most appropriate for evaluating the credibility of an information
source? - ANS Who funded it? & Does it try to get you to distrust other sources?
While researching a topic on the internet, a student encounters two different
websites, one of that looks more official than the other and includes tables, charts,
and statistics, while the other does not.
What is the line of reasoning this student should employ to determine which site is
more credible? - ANS It is not feasible to determine which site is more credible from
the information provided.
In which way should an information source be approached if it is stating that it is the
only source of real information and that other sources cannot be trusted? - ANS
Skeptically, because the source may lack credibility.
PRINCIPLE OF CHARITY - ANS The principle of charity suggests we should try to
understand ideas before criticizing them.
Which of the following are reasons for applying the principle of charity? - ANS It is
morally right to give others the benefit of the doubt.
It allows for a clearer understanding of the issue.
Smith is committed to the belief that technological advancement is always beneficial
and thus never detrimental to human life. Smith reads a carefully written and
sufficiently argued essay in which the author contends that the human adoption of
any new technology involves both advantages and disadvantages to its adopters.
Since Smith is a loyal technophile, Smith accepts the author's claims about the
advantages of technology but rejects the author's claims about the disadvantages of
technology.
Which cognitive bias is Smith demonstrating? - ANS Confirmation Bias
CONFIRMATION BIAS - ANS the tendency to interpret new evidence as
confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories.
COGNITIVE BIAS - ANS a systematic thought process caused by the tendency of
the human brain to simplify information processing through a filter of personal
experience and preferences.
HEURISTICS - ANS are practical rules of thumb that manifest as mental shortcuts
in judgment and decision-making.
Which sentence reflects strong critical thinking? - ANS "In any event, our purpose is
to better understand the relevant issues so that we may make an informed decision
on the topic."
Since inflation is rising rapidly, and because we are approaching the point at which
reversal is not possible, it follows that we need to institute a new economic policy,
