Critical Thinking Midterm

Anthropocentrism

Anthropocentrism is a belief that humans are the central or the most significant entity in the universe

Emotions and their role in critical thinking

As critical thinkers, we need to be aware of the dangers of emotions such as anger and fear as barriers to critical thought, and also of the benefits of using emotions such as empathy and compassion to enhance our critical thinking abilities.

Four communication styles

Assertive, Aggressive, Passive, Passive-aggressive Assertive communicators clearly and respectfully communicate their own needs and strive for mutually satisfactory solutions. Aggressive communicators attempt to get their own way by controlling other people through manipulation and control tactics. Passive communicators avoid confrontation and are compliant, often putting their needs after those of others. Passive-aggressive communicators avoid direct confrontation but use devious means to get their own way.

Barriers to critical thinking

Barriers to critical thinking include several types of resistance, including avoidance, anger, cliches, denial, ignorance, conformity, struggling, and distractions.

Characteristics of a skilled critical thinker

Critical thinkers have a collection of skills including Analytical Skills, Effective Communication, Research and Inquiry Skills, Flexibility and Tolerance for Ambiguity, Open-minded Skepticism, Creative Problem Solving, Attention, Mindfulness, and Curiosity, and Collaborative Learning.

Egocentrism

Egocentrism is a perspective that sees the self as the center of all things

Ethocentrism

Ethnocentrism is an uncritical and unjustified belief in the inherent superiority of one's own group or culture

Three levels of critical thinking

Experience, Interpretation, Analysis

Three approaches to faith and reason

Fideism, Rationalism, Critical rationalism Fideism argues that faith transcends reason, and that the divine is revealed through faith and revelation, not reason or empirical evidence. Rationalism argues that religious beliefs should be consistent with reason and evidence. Critical rationalism argues that divine knowledge can derive from both faith and reason, but that both sources should be compatible with one another.

Informative Language

Language that is either true or false

Sources of Knowledge

Rationalists, like the Greek philosopher Plato, claim that most human knowledge and truth derives from reason. Empiricists, on the other hand, claim that truth and knowledge are derived through empirical evidence collected by our physical senses.

Reason

Reason is the process of supporting a claim or conclusion based on evidence. It involves both the disciplined use of intelligence and the application of rules for problem solving.

Rhetorical devices

Use of Euphemisms, Dysphemisms, Sarcasm, Hyperbole to manipulate and persuade

diffusion of responsibility

a social phenomenon that occurs in groups of people above a critical size

Lexical definitions

are the commonly used dictionary definitions for words or terms.

Expressive language

communicates feelings and attitudes; used to generate emotive impact

Doublethink

defined as holding two contradictory views, or "double standards," at the same time, and believing both to be true.

Stipulative definitions

definitions given to new words or terms, or are new definitions of existing words.

group pressure and conformity

influence individual members to take positions that they would never support by themselves

Primary function of language

language is the primary means of transmitting cultural concepts and traditions, including critical thinking skills.

false memory syndrome

our brains often create false memories of events, and these false memories can be as compelling and believable as real memories.

Social Expectations

social error, views not critically analyzed that can result in collective delusion

Ceremonial language

used in prescribed formal circumstances

Directive Language

used to direct or influence actions

Persuasive definitions

used to influence or persuade others.

Precising definitions

used to reduce vagueness. They are split into two subsets: (a) theoretical definitions, used to provide theory, and (b) operational definitions, used to provide standards in data collection.

"one of us / one of them" error

we tend to treat people who are similar to us with respect and those who are different from us with suspicious or worse