an introduction to critical thinking
DESCRIPTION
An Introduction to Critical Thinking by QualiaSoup ( http ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OLPL5p0fMg ). Give someone a fish and they’ll eat that day. Give someone a fish and they’ll eat that day. Teach them how to catch a fish and they’ll never go hungry. LEARNING SKILLS. Dependence. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
An Introduction to Critical Thinkingby QualiaSoup (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OLPL5p0fMg )
Give someone a fish and they’ll eat that day
Give someone a fish and they’ll eat that day
Teach them how to catch a fish and they’ll never go hungry
Dependence Self-reliance
LEARNING SKILLS
Self-reliance
Memorize the solutionto a problem …
Solution
… and it may lead to the solving of that,
and similar problems
LEARNING SKILLS
Self-reliance
improving your critical thinking …
… can provide techniques to
solve a multitude of
unfamiliar problems
Self-reliance
Critical thinkingAnalyzingConceptualisingDefiningExaminingInferringListeningQuestioningReasoningSynthesising
evaluating information&
evaluating our thoughtsin a disciplined way
help us refineour thought processes
• think and assess information more comprehensively• more able to identify and reject false ideas /ideologies
Critical thinking…isn’t just ‘thinking a lot’
Position X
(How?)
Who?
Critical thinking…isn’t just ‘thinking a lot’
(How?)Position
X
flaws & biases
Who?
flaws & biases
ThinkingCritically
We need to be aware of the flaws and biases in our
thinking …
… we must want to be better at thinking
to pinpoint and minimizebiasing influence from
Culture and Upbringingto seek out and be guided by
Knowledge and Evidencethat fits with reality .....
…even if it refutes ourcherished beliefs
beliefs
if shown to be unfounded
CHANGE of POSITION = appropriate response
Critical thinkers exhibit -
CuriosityPerspectiveKnowledge
Willing todo the work
required
to keepthemselves
properlyinformed
The crops failed because the Sun God is
angry
Explains nothing Untestable What would upset
Evolutionary theory?
Many things. For instance, a
Paleozoic panda….
Critical thinking embracesScepticism
indiscriminaterejection of ideas
doubtingsuspension of judgement
CLAIMreasoning assumptions biasesreasoning
reasoningshould be based in sound, consistent logic not on emotions / social pressure
Truth of factual claims is not determined by:• the emotion that accompanies them OR• the fact that they may be believed
by certain social groups
reasoningshould be based in sound, consistent logic not on emotions / social pressure
Truth of factual claims is not determined by:the emotion that accompanies them ORthe fact that they may be believed
by certain social groups
Reason has no value
Reason has no value
Because it’s just a human
concept
Reason has no value
Because it’s just a human
concept
Using the very thing you are
dismissing in order to construct a case
against it
REASON
Reason has no value
Because it’s just a human
concept
Using the very thing you are
dismissing in order to construct a case
against it
REASON
REASON is intrinsic to our decisions and judgments
Moving to AustraliaPros Cons
These aren’t ripe
What will increase our understanding?
Moving to AustraliaPros Cons
These aren’t ripe
Dismissing reason? Or looking honestly at our flaws?
La
What will increase our understanding?Dismissing reason? Or looking honestly at our flaws?
lack of respect for reason
lack of respect for evidence
intellectualarrogance
unwillingnessto listen intellectual
laziness
will sabotageone’s capacity
for critical thought
BLACK & WHITETHINKING
FALSEDICHOTOMY
Those whoaccept
evolution
Theists
Those whoaccept
evolution
Theists
Theists whoaccept
evolution
Those whoaccept
evolution
Theists
Theists whoaccept
evolution
If we think in false
dichotomies
we will draw false
conclusions
If we think in false
dichotomies
we will draw false
conclusions
IfOPTION A
is false
OPTION BMUSTbe true
If onedoesn’t holdATTITUDE X
One MUSThold
ATTITUDE Y
BLACK & WHITE THINKINGoften
reflects
underlying intolerance of ambiguityleaping to flawed conclusions because you can’t
tolerate the ambiguity of not knowing
TRUTHCURIOSITY COMFORT
Qualities of a Critical Thinker
• can handle uncertainty• prefers to be aware of their areas of ignorance• can wait for valid evidence• can wait for evidence-based answers
Cr t cal Th nk ng
intellectualindependence
Cr t cal Th nk ng
Moves us away from
• rash conclusions• mystification• reluctance to question
- received wisdom- authority- tradition
Moves us towards
• intellectual discipline• clear expression of
ideas• acceptance of personal
responsibility for our own thinking
eager to acquire and
apply the best
knowledge and reason in
all fields
willing to acknowledge and correct flaws in their own thinking
better equipped to create more profoundly effective solutions to the challenges we face in
living, and living together
When we teach, encourage and practice critical
thinkingwe empower individual livesand invest in our collective future