SSH 105 Critical Thinking Final EXAM Study Notes
Toronto Metropolitan University
FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
QUIZ 1 STUDY GUIDE:
What is Critical Thinking?
- Critical thinking is about evaluating beliefs about, e.g., climate change, politics, health,
and medicine, etc.
- CT is not about where your beliefs come from.
- “Critical thinking is the systematic evaluation of formulation of Critical, or statements, by
rational standards.”
- It’s systematic because it involves distinct procedures and methods, not just “gut feelings.”
- It’s used to evaluate existing beliefs and formulate new ones
- It considers beliefs in terms of how well they are supported by evidence.
Why should we think critically?
- Because who we are is in large part determined by our actions and choices. And our actions
and preferences are, in turn, determined by our thoughts and beliefs.
- If we don't choose our beliefs carefully, we’re giving up control
- Critical thinking is about challenging our assumptions, asking hard questions, and
rejecting biases.
What do you need to know to think critically?
- You need to be able to think, listen and read
slowly Definitions:
- Assertion (Statement): An assertion is expressed by a declarative sentence that is intended
to make a claim of some sort. Sometimes these are called statements or propositions.
Example: “I am shorter than you.” “It is snowing.” “Joe Biden will win the election.”
- Premise: A premise is a statement that is offered in support of a
conclusion Example: All whales are mammals. Moby Dick is a whale.
- Conclusion: A conclusion is a statement that is held to be supported by a premise or
,premises Example: Moby Dick is a mammal
- Argument: An argument is a set of statements, one of which (the conclusion) is taken to
be supported by the remaining statements (the premises)
Another way of saying this:
• An argument is a group of statements in which some (the premises) are intended to support
another (the conclusion).
• The conclusion is what the speaker wants you to accept.
• The premises state the reasons or evidence for accepting the conclusion.
- Inference: An inference is a move from a premise (or premises) to a conclusion (or conclusions)
- Critical thinking is all about inferences.
, - Inferences are identified and evaluated.
Don't confuse arguments with explanations.
- An explanation tells you why something happened.
- An argument tells you why you should have believed something
- Arguments have something to prove; explanations do not.
Examples:
1. Adam stole the money for the three people that saw him do it.
2. Adam stole the money because he needed to buy food.
Be aware that NOT all statements (or series of statements contain arguments.
- “Donald woke up at 6 am. It was snowing, and the cats needed to be fed. He filled their
bowls and made himself some coffee.”
Conclusion Indicators:
- Thus
- Therefore
- Hence
- Ental(s)
- ….it follows that…
- ….we may conclude…
- Consequently
- So
Premise Indicators:
- Since
- Because
- For
- As
- ….given that…
- …in as much as….
- …for the reason that…
TWO POINTS ABOUT INDICATOR WORDS:
- First: They may not actually be present in arguments.
- Second: When we offer an argument, the premises do not always combefore conclusions.
Sometimes we state the conclusion at the beginning!
- “Textual priority versus logical priority”: “Religious beliefs cannot be proven. If
something is a matter of faith, it cannot be proven, and religious beliefs are obviously
a matter of faith.”
Common impediments to critical thinking:
Category 1: Hindrances that arise because of how we think.
Category 2: Hindrances that occur because of what we think.
Toronto Metropolitan University
FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
QUIZ 1 STUDY GUIDE:
What is Critical Thinking?
- Critical thinking is about evaluating beliefs about, e.g., climate change, politics, health,
and medicine, etc.
- CT is not about where your beliefs come from.
- “Critical thinking is the systematic evaluation of formulation of Critical, or statements, by
rational standards.”
- It’s systematic because it involves distinct procedures and methods, not just “gut feelings.”
- It’s used to evaluate existing beliefs and formulate new ones
- It considers beliefs in terms of how well they are supported by evidence.
Why should we think critically?
- Because who we are is in large part determined by our actions and choices. And our actions
and preferences are, in turn, determined by our thoughts and beliefs.
- If we don't choose our beliefs carefully, we’re giving up control
- Critical thinking is about challenging our assumptions, asking hard questions, and
rejecting biases.
What do you need to know to think critically?
- You need to be able to think, listen and read
slowly Definitions:
- Assertion (Statement): An assertion is expressed by a declarative sentence that is intended
to make a claim of some sort. Sometimes these are called statements or propositions.
Example: “I am shorter than you.” “It is snowing.” “Joe Biden will win the election.”
- Premise: A premise is a statement that is offered in support of a
conclusion Example: All whales are mammals. Moby Dick is a whale.
- Conclusion: A conclusion is a statement that is held to be supported by a premise or
,premises Example: Moby Dick is a mammal
- Argument: An argument is a set of statements, one of which (the conclusion) is taken to
be supported by the remaining statements (the premises)
Another way of saying this:
• An argument is a group of statements in which some (the premises) are intended to support
another (the conclusion).
• The conclusion is what the speaker wants you to accept.
• The premises state the reasons or evidence for accepting the conclusion.
- Inference: An inference is a move from a premise (or premises) to a conclusion (or conclusions)
- Critical thinking is all about inferences.
, - Inferences are identified and evaluated.
Don't confuse arguments with explanations.
- An explanation tells you why something happened.
- An argument tells you why you should have believed something
- Arguments have something to prove; explanations do not.
Examples:
1. Adam stole the money for the three people that saw him do it.
2. Adam stole the money because he needed to buy food.
Be aware that NOT all statements (or series of statements contain arguments.
- “Donald woke up at 6 am. It was snowing, and the cats needed to be fed. He filled their
bowls and made himself some coffee.”
Conclusion Indicators:
- Thus
- Therefore
- Hence
- Ental(s)
- ….it follows that…
- ….we may conclude…
- Consequently
- So
Premise Indicators:
- Since
- Because
- For
- As
- ….given that…
- …in as much as….
- …for the reason that…
TWO POINTS ABOUT INDICATOR WORDS:
- First: They may not actually be present in arguments.
- Second: When we offer an argument, the premises do not always combefore conclusions.
Sometimes we state the conclusion at the beginning!
- “Textual priority versus logical priority”: “Religious beliefs cannot be proven. If
something is a matter of faith, it cannot be proven, and religious beliefs are obviously
a matter of faith.”
Common impediments to critical thinking:
Category 1: Hindrances that arise because of how we think.
Category 2: Hindrances that occur because of what we think.
