Terminology
the general term given to a wide range of cognitive skills and intellectual dispositions needed to effectively identify, analyze, and evaluate arguments and truth claims; to discover and overcome personal preconceptions and biases; to formulate and present convincing reasons in support of conclusions; and to make reasonable, intelligent decisions about what to believe and what to do.
What is critical thinking?
The indicator word test
The strict necessity test
The common pattern test
The principle of charity test
What are four simple tests to distinguish deductive and inductive arguments?
Mistakes in reasoning that occur because the premises are logically irrelevant to the conclusion.
Mistakes in reasoning that occur because the premises, though logically relevant to the conclusion, fail to provide sufficient evidence to support the conclusion.
What are the concepts of Fallacies of relevance and fallacies of insufficient evidence?
No fish are reptiles. All trout are fish. So, some trout are not reptiles.
invalid
Egocentrism (Self-interested Thinking, Superiority Bias), Sociocentrism (Group Bias, Tribalism, Conformism), Unwarranted Assumptions, Relativistic Thinking, and Wishful Thinking.
What are some of the barriers to critical thinking?
A deductive argument that both is valid and has all true premises.
What is a sound deductive argument?
Identify the logical fallacy in the argument.
You don’t want to take Advanced Math. Only geeks take that class.
bandwagon fallacy
Some dreamers are not romantics, because some idealists are not romantics, and all idealists are dreamers.
valid
Reports, Unsupported Assertions, Conditional Statements, Illustrations, and Explanations.
What are non-arguments?
Determine whether the following arguments are deductive or inductive. If the argument is deductive, determine whether it is valid or invalid. If the argument is inductive, determine whether it is strong or weak. Explain your answer in each case.
There are more than fifty students in this class. It must be the case, therefore, that at least one of them is a Capricorn.
inductive, week
Identify the logical fallacy in the argument.
Either you support preferential treatment for disadvantaged minorities in university admissions, or you’re a racist. But surely you’re not a racist. Therefore, you support preferential treatment for disadvantaged minorities in university admissions.
false alternatives
Some butchers are not bakers. No butchers are candlestick makers. Therefore, some candlestick makers are not bakers.
invalid
Deductive Argument and Inductive Argument.
What are two types of arguments?
Determine whether the following arguments are deductive or inductive. If the argument is deductive, determine whether it is valid or invalid. If the argument is inductive, determine whether it is strong or weak.
According to the Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, philosopher William James was born in New York City in 1842. So, William James was born in New York City in 1842.
inductive, strong
Rachel Peters has argued that assault weapons should be outlawed. Apparently, Rachel believes that no one has the right to own firearms for purposes of self-protection. But such a view is completely indefensible. It would leave law-abiding citizens defenseless against predatory criminals.
straw man
Assume that a, b, and c are true, and x, y, and z are false, then determine whether each of the following is true or false.
(z → b) v ~c
True
Efforts to dress up reality with euphemistic language.
What is political correctness?
Determine whether the following arguments are deductive or inductive. If the argument is deductive, determine whether it is valid or invalid. If the argument is inductive, determine whether it is strong or weak.
It is totally dark in here, but I know that the only things in the drawer are socks, ten black, ten white. I had better take out eleven socks to be sure I get a matched pair.
Deductive, invalid
Identify the logical fallacy committed in the argument:
You often hear people say that the French are rude, especially to people who don’t speak their language. But France is a wonderful country! The wine, the food, the museums! There’s no country in Europe I’d rather visit.
red herring.
Assume that a, b, and c are true, and x, y, and z are false, then determine whether each of the following is true or false.
~(~c → y) → ~(~b → ~z)
True