Transcript Components of & Barriers to Critical Thinking

Components of &
Barriers to Critical
Thinking
1. Frames of reference
2. Thinking patterns
Instinctual Thinking Patterns
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Prejudice
Partisanship
Provincialism
Herd instinct
Availability Bias
Thinking & Reasoning
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Critical thinking doesn’t come naturally. In fact,
humans are instinctively terrible critical thinkers —
we still have to overcome instincts to think
critically. Critical thinking requires that we collect
evidence from neutral sources, and make sure that
we understand all sides of an issue. Unfortunately,
the human brain is programmed to simplify. Unless
we are vigilant, there are certain instinctual thought
patterns that will derail our attempts at critical
thinking. There are also thinking patterns that help
us ensure that we are being critical thinkers and
prevent us from “jumping to conclusions”.
Thinking Patterns: Soccer Analogy
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfduUFF_i
1A&feature=fvst
Statements & Prepositions
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Methods of expressing different kinds of
knowledge
 Logic
 Formal logic: used to create proofs,
language and rules of logic are concrete
and used to come to conclusions
 Informal logic: critical thinking
Formal Logic: Modus ponens
If P then Q. P, Therefore, Q.
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If this object is made of copper, it will conduct electricity.
This object is made of copper, so it will conduct electricity.
If there is no largest prime number, then 510511 is not the
largest prime number. There is no largest prime number.
Therefore 510511 is not the largest prime number.
If Lam is a Buddhist then he should not eat pork. Lam is a
Buddhist. Therefore Lam should not eat pork.
Affirming the consequent - If P
then Q. Q. Therefore, P.
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This is a fallacy…not to be confused with
modus ponens!! Logic of conclusion doesn’t
match logic in the “law”.
If Jane lives in London then Jane lives in
England. Jane lives in England. Therefore Jane
lives in London.
If Jane has gone shopping then Daniel will be
unhappy. Daniel is unhappy. So Jane has gone
shopping.
Benefits of formal logic
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Formal logic helps us identify patterns of “good”
reasoning & patterns of “bad” reasoning, so we
know which to follow &which to avoid.
Everyday users of formal logic:
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Linguists, computer programmers, criminologists, police
investigators, pharmacists, etc., etc., etc.
Many philosophers use formal logic when dealing
with complicated philosophical problems, in order
to make their reasoning more explicit and precise.
She’s a Witch
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More Monty Python
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp_l5ntika
U
How’s The Logic?
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Logic puzzles…
Identify the logic & the fallacies
Use the logic
Remember we are assessing the LOGIC, not the
conclusions.
Question to Consider: Does logic come easily to
you? Are you able to work through logic
problems quickly? What helps?