D265 WGU Critical Thinking Study Guide
Critical Thinking ✔️Ans - The ability to think carefully about thinking and
reasoning/to be critical of your own reasoning.
Propositions ✔️Ans - The fundamental building blocks of arguments. They
are a statement that can be true or false.
Simple propositions ✔️Ans - They have no internal logic structure, they are
simply true or false based on how the world is.
Freedom should be the highest value for its citizens. ✔️Ans - Simple
proposition
Complex propositions ✔️Ans - They have internal logic structure, and
whether they are true or false depends on if their parts are true or false.
If freedom should be the highest value for its citizens, then we should promote
it in our laws and policies. ✔️Ans - Complex proposition
Argument ✔️Ans - Contains at least two statements or propositions: a
conclusion and one or more premises that lend support to the conclusion.
Premise ✔️Ans - A proposition that supports the conclusion.
Conclusion Indicators ✔️Ans - Therefore, so, it follows that, hence, thus,
entails that, we may conclude that, implies that, wherefore, as a result.
Premise Indicators ✔️Ans - Because, for, given that, in that, as, since,
indicated by.
Conclusion ✔️Ans - The claim that the whole argument is intended to
support or prove.
Deduction ✔️Ans - Arguments where the premises guarantee or necessitate
the conclusion.
, Types of arguments that are deductive ✔️Ans - Mathematical arguments,
logical arguments, arguments from definition.
Induction ✔️Ans - Arguments where the premises make the conclusion likely
to be true.
Types of arguments that are inductive/ampliative ✔️Ans - Analogies,
authority, casual inferences, scientific reasoning, extrapolations.
P1: Monty is in Bejing
P2: It is impossible to get here from Bejing in an afternoon
Conclusion: Monty won't be at the party ✔️Ans - Deductive argument
P1: Monty is really shy
P2: Monty rarely goes to parties
Conclusion: Monty won't be at the party ✔️Ans - Inductive/ampliative
argument
Soundness/Validity ✔️Ans - Elements of a deductive argument
Validity ✔️Ans - If true, the premises make the conclusion true
Soundness ✔️Ans - The argument's premises guarantee the conclusion when
true (Validity), and all premises are true
Strength/Cogency ✔️Ans - Elements of an inductive argument
Strength ✔️Ans - The premises give probable support for the conclusion.
Cogent ✔️Ans - The premises give probable support towards the conclusion
when true (Strength), and all premises are true
Fallacy ✔️Ans - A defect in reasoning
Formal Fallacy ✔️Ans - A defect in the structure of an argument
Informal Fallacy ✔️Ans - A defect in the content of an argument
Critical Thinking ✔️Ans - The ability to think carefully about thinking and
reasoning/to be critical of your own reasoning.
Propositions ✔️Ans - The fundamental building blocks of arguments. They
are a statement that can be true or false.
Simple propositions ✔️Ans - They have no internal logic structure, they are
simply true or false based on how the world is.
Freedom should be the highest value for its citizens. ✔️Ans - Simple
proposition
Complex propositions ✔️Ans - They have internal logic structure, and
whether they are true or false depends on if their parts are true or false.
If freedom should be the highest value for its citizens, then we should promote
it in our laws and policies. ✔️Ans - Complex proposition
Argument ✔️Ans - Contains at least two statements or propositions: a
conclusion and one or more premises that lend support to the conclusion.
Premise ✔️Ans - A proposition that supports the conclusion.
Conclusion Indicators ✔️Ans - Therefore, so, it follows that, hence, thus,
entails that, we may conclude that, implies that, wherefore, as a result.
Premise Indicators ✔️Ans - Because, for, given that, in that, as, since,
indicated by.
Conclusion ✔️Ans - The claim that the whole argument is intended to
support or prove.
Deduction ✔️Ans - Arguments where the premises guarantee or necessitate
the conclusion.
, Types of arguments that are deductive ✔️Ans - Mathematical arguments,
logical arguments, arguments from definition.
Induction ✔️Ans - Arguments where the premises make the conclusion likely
to be true.
Types of arguments that are inductive/ampliative ✔️Ans - Analogies,
authority, casual inferences, scientific reasoning, extrapolations.
P1: Monty is in Bejing
P2: It is impossible to get here from Bejing in an afternoon
Conclusion: Monty won't be at the party ✔️Ans - Deductive argument
P1: Monty is really shy
P2: Monty rarely goes to parties
Conclusion: Monty won't be at the party ✔️Ans - Inductive/ampliative
argument
Soundness/Validity ✔️Ans - Elements of a deductive argument
Validity ✔️Ans - If true, the premises make the conclusion true
Soundness ✔️Ans - The argument's premises guarantee the conclusion when
true (Validity), and all premises are true
Strength/Cogency ✔️Ans - Elements of an inductive argument
Strength ✔️Ans - The premises give probable support for the conclusion.
Cogent ✔️Ans - The premises give probable support towards the conclusion
when true (Strength), and all premises are true
Fallacy ✔️Ans - A defect in reasoning
Formal Fallacy ✔️Ans - A defect in the structure of an argument
Informal Fallacy ✔️Ans - A defect in the content of an argument
