Critical thinking

Method of Doubt Method of Belief

-A method of critical analysis in which we put aside our preconceived ideas and beliefs and begin from a position of skepticism -A method of critical analysis in which we suspend our doubts and biases and remain genuinely open to what people with opposing views are saying

Characteristics of critical thinking

-Gives you the ability to judge -Tells you how to think -Requires good analytical skills -Distinguishes correct from incorrect arguments

As a skilled critical thinker, You should:

-Have good analytical skills -possess effective communication skills -be well informed and possess -good research skills -be flexible and able to tolerate ambiguity and uncertainty -adopt a position of open-minded skepticism -be a creative problem solver -be attentive, mindful and intellectually curious -engage in collaborative learning

1. Sally held the door open for me when I was leaving class 2. What was sally's intention in holding the door open for me? 3. If human cloning is illegal, it must be immoral 4. Why is human cloning illegal? Are there circumstances in which human cloning might be acceptable? 5. Why aren't more Americans, especially young Americans, voting? Should voting in federal elections be compulsory, as it is in some other countries? is the problem the choice of candidates? 6. Young people in the United States don't vote because they are apathetic when it comes to politics. 7. Although blacks represent only 12.9 percent of the U.S. population, they make up 45 percent of the prison inmates. 8. Black men make up such a large percentage of the prison population because black men are innately more violent than white men.

1. Experience 2. Analysis 3. Interpretation 4. Analysis 5. Analysis 6. Interpretation 7. Experience 8. Interpretation

1. Analysis often uses questions 2. Does interpretation show the results of analyzing experiences? 3. Everyone believes he or she should avoid violence at any cost. 4. Asking the wrong questions during analysis of experiences hinders accurate interpretation. 5. Collaboration is my most effective skill in management

1. Interpretation 2. Analysis 3. Interpretation 4. Experience 5. Experience

Match the terms: A) Critical thinking B) Logic C) Opinion

A) A collection of skills we use every day that are necessary for our full intellectual and personal development B) The study of the methods and principles used to distinguish correct or good arguments from poor arguments C) A belief based solely on personal feelings rather than on reason or facts

A) Open minded skepticism B) Creative problem solving C) Attention, Mindfulness, and Curiosity D) Collaborative learning

A) A good critical thinker may use the approaches of method of doubt or method of belief A) It is especially important that one be willing to adopt a position of doubt when critically examining one's own cherished beliefs and the claims of authority figures. B) Creative thinkers can view problems from multiple perspectives and come up with original solutions to complex problems. B) Critical thinkers use their imagination to envisage possibilities, including potential future problems, and to develop contingency plans to deal effectively with these scenarios. C)Critical thinkers do not reject, without sound reasons, views that conflict with their own. Instead, they respect diversity and are willing to consider multiple perspectives. C) The Buddhist concept of the beginner's mind is thought to be closely related to these skills. D) Critical thinking occurs in a real life context and anticipates the reaction of others. We are not isolated individuals- we are interconnected beings. D) The failure to take into account context and relationships can lead to faulty decisions that we may later regret

Match the term: A) Confirmation Bias B) Dualism C)Relativism D)Commitment

A) At the dualistic stage of research, seeking out only evidence that supports your view and dismissing evidence that contradicts it. B) Authorities know the right answers; those who don't are frauds. C) When the authorities don't have the right answers, everyone has a right to his or her own opinion; there are no right or wrong answers. D) Students realize that they should not just blindly follow or oppose authority.

A) Living the self-examined life B) Developing a rational life plan C) Facing Challenges D) Importance of self-esteem E) Critical thinking in a democracy

A) Good critical thinkers take charge of their lives and choices rather than opting for the security of fitting into the crowd B)We make a hierarchy, with our most important plans at the top, followed by a list of sub-plans. C) Sometimes traditional practices and beliefs, both our own and those of others, may get in the way of our achieving our life plan. D) Effective critical thinking skills appear to be positively correlated to healthy self-respect. E) We have an obligation to be well informed about policies and issues so that we can effectively participate in critical discussions and decisions.

A)Stage 2: Dualism B)Transition to stage 2 C) Stage 2: D)Transition to stage 3 E)Stage 3: Commitment

A) If I work hard and learn everything they say, I too will know the right answers B)Authorities are working on these problems to get to the truth, even though they may not know the answers for a long time. C) In some cases, authorities don't give me the right answers; instead they want me to think about things in a certain way and support my opinion. D)But if everything is relative, how can I know whether I'm making the right choice? E) I need to orient myself in an uncertain world and make a decision or commitment to a position that is based on evidence and well-reasoned arguments.

A) Conformity B) Struggling C) Distractions D) Rationalization E) Doublethink

A) Many people fear that they will not be accepted by their peers if they disagree with them. B) Procrastinators are most likely to use this type of resistance. C) many use television, loud music, work, etc., to prevent their minds from critically thinking about troublesome issues in their lives. D) When we have made a decision that contradicts our preferred image of ourselves, we may attempt to justify that decision on the basis of opinion rather than critical analysis. E) Rather than analyzing the arguments surrounding highly charged issues, people may end up holding two contradictory views, or "double standards", at the same time and believing both to be true, depending on whose interests are at stake.

A) Marin Luther King B) John Rawls C) Thomas Jefferson D) Socrates

A) Marin Luther King said "We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor, it must be demanded by the oppressed." B) John Rawls wrote that in order to get the most our of life, everyone needs to develop a "rational life plan"--that is, a plan that would be chosen by him with full deliberative rationality, that is, with full awareness of the relevant facts and after a careful amount of consideration of consequences... someone is happy when his plans are going well and his more important aspirations are being fulfilled." C) Thomas Jefferson wrote, "In a republican nation, whose citzens are to be led by reason and persuasion and not by force, the art of reasoning becomes of the first importance" D) Socrates said," the unexamined life is not worth living"

A) Absolutism B) Anthropocentrism C) Ethnocentrism D) Egocentrism E) Fear of Challenge

A) People may find themselves acting contrary to their deeply held moral beliefs simply because they do not have the critical thinking skills necessary for standing up to unreasonable authority. B) The belief that humans are the central or most significant entity of the universe can blind people, including scientists, to the capabilities of other animals. C) The belief in the inherent superiority of one;s own group and culture is characterized by suspicion and a lack of understanding about other cultures. D) The belief that the self or individual is the center of all things E) One may fail to stand up to others because one has concern that others will challenge one's beliefs.

A) Rene Descartes B)Albert Einstein C) Samuel Taylor Coleridge D)Shunryu Suzuki

A) Proposed the method of doubt B) Developed theory of relativity and used the method of doubt regarding the generally accepted belief that time is absolute- that is, fixed and unchanging. C) Proposed that becoming immersed in a good book, movie, or a play often involves the willing suspension of disbelief. D) Wrote the practice of zen mind is beginner's mind. if your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything; it is open to everything. in the beginner's mind there are many possibilities

A) Avoidance B) Anger C) Cliches D) Denial E) Ignorance

A) Rather than seeking out different points of view, one may use this type of resistance to escape certain people and situations. B) Rather than using critical thinking when confronted with an opposing viewpoint, some people respond with this type of resistance. C) Resorting to this type of resistance, often repeated statements such as "To each his own," can keep us from thinking critically about issues. D) Even faced with starting statistics regarding motor vehicle accidents, people may refuse to accept that they are drunk and incapable of driving. E) This is resistance when we intentionally avoid learning about an issue even though the information about it is available to us.

1. Sally held the door open for me when I was leaving class 2. What was sally's intention in holding the door open for me? 3. If human cloning is illegal, it must be immoral 4. Why is human cloning illegal? Are there circumstances in which human cloning might be acceptable? 5. Why aren't more Americans, especially young Americans, voting? Should voting in federal elections be compulsory, as it is in some other countries? is the problem the choice of candidates? 6. Young people in the United States don't vote because they are apathetic when it comes to politics. 7. Although blacks represent only 12.9 percent of the U.S. population, they make up 45 percent of the prison inmates. 8. Black men make up such a large percentage of the prison population because black men are innately more violent than white men.

A) Requires that we raise our level of thinking and critically examine our interpretations of an experience, as well as those of others. B) Involves trying to make sense of our experiences C) The foundation of critical thinking; includes information or empirical facts that we receive from other sources.

A) Analytical Skills B) Effective communication C) Research and inquiry skills D) Flexibility and Tolerance for Ambiguity

A) These skills are important in recognizing and evaluating other people's arguments so that you are not taken in by faulty reasoning. These skills include listening, speaking, and writing skills. A)As a critical thinker, one needs to be able to provide logical support for beliefs rather than simply relying on opinions. B) This characteristic includes listening, speaking, and writing skills. C) Understanding and resolving issues require these skills such as competence in gathering, evaluating, and synthesizing supporting evidence. C) Gaining insight requires asking the right questions. D) As we mature, we become better at making decisions in the face of uncertainty. D) Critical thinkers adjust their life plans so that they can adapt to changes.

According to the text, which of the following does not contribute to one's ability to think critically

Ability to form strong opinons

What type of narrow-mindedness is Immanuel Kant using in the above?

Absolutism

By clicking the word, Highlight the types of NARROW-MINDEDNESS that exist and act as barriers to critical thinking.

Absolutism Anthropocentric Ego centrism Ethnocentrism Fear of challenge

A form of narrow mindedness that can hinder us from thinking critically about our relationship with nature and our environment is called

Anthropocentrism

In the article, "When will computer hardware match the human brain?" by Hans Moravec, a graph was created to illustrate when computers suitable for human-like robots will appear. This goes against what type of narrow-mindedness?

Anthropocentrism

By clicking on the word, Highlight the types of RESISTANCE that exist and act as barriers to critical thinking

Avoidance Struggling Ignorance Conformity Denial Anger Cliches Distractions

Last night my boyfriend broke up with me and my mom had the nerve to say, "It always works out for the best." The mother's response is an example of what type of resistance?

Cliche

Grounding one's thinking in shared conversation and community best fits with what characteristic of a good critical thinker?

Collaborative learning

Using one's imagination to envisage possibilities best fits with what characteristic of a good critical thinker?

Creative problem solving

------ consists of a collection of skills we use every day that are necessary for our full intellectual and personal development

Critical thinking

"The fact that many Americans fail to acknowledge the possibility that the world oil reserves may soon run out" is an example of what type of barrier to critical thinking?

Denial

In the piaget experiment-inspired video, the first child is unable to describe the view seen by the woman. When asked, "Can you tell me what I see from where I'm sitting right here?" he answers with what he sees from his point of view. This best illustrates what type of narrow-mindedness?

Distractions

Sharpening one's listening, speaking, and writing skills best fits with what characteristic of a good critical thinker?

Effective communication

Claiming that the United States is the greatest and freest nation ever without examining the available data is a form of non-critical narrow mindedness called

Ethnocentrism

What type of narrow-mindedness was present as result of Brandon Mayfield being detained as a suspect in the 2004 Madrid train bombings?

Ethnocentrism

Drag the terms to the appropriate spot of the pyramid

Experience is the base ( bottom ) 3 Interpretation is the middle level 2 Analysis is the tip ( top ) 1

A primary goal of critical thinking is learning to take a stand on a controversial issue.

False

Critical thinking can be broken down into three levels: experience, interpretation, and evaluation.

False

Critical thinking is synonymous with logic

False

Doublethink involves the willingness to rethink our views when they are challenged

False

Ethnocentrism is a form of narrow-mindedness in which a person believes that she or he is the center of all things.

False

In the three-tier model of thinking, resistance is most likely to occur between experience and interpretation.

False

One characteristic of effective critical thinkers is that they hold firm to their position on an issue and avoid being influenced by others' views

False

Tolerance for ambiguity and reflective skepticism are considered barriers to critical thinking.

False

In conceding to John Preskill's theory about black holes, what type of narrow-mindedness did Stephen Hawking overcome?

Fear of challenge

Critical thinking requires learning ------ to think, not ----- to think.

How, What

A method of critical analysis in which we suspend our doubts and biases and remain genuinely open to what people with opposing views are saying is referred to as

Method of belief

A method of critical analysis in which we put aside our preconceived ideas and beliefs and begin from a position of skepticism is called

Method of doubt

Being open to what is going on in the present moment best fits with characteristic of a good critical thinker?

None of the above

Putting aside preconceived ideas best fits with what characteristic of a good critical thinker?

Open-minded skepticism

A belief bases solely on personal feelings rather than on reason or facts is called a(n)

Opinion

Learning to gather, evaluate, and synthesize evidence best fits with what characteristic of a good critical thinker?

Research and inquiry skills

Students come to recognize that there is uncertainty in the world and that authorities can have different positions. According to the text, some educators have called this period of disorientation and doubting all answers

Sophomoritis

Becoming immersed in a good book, movie, or play is referred to as

Suspension of disbelief

Which of the following does not describe critical thinkers?

They form strong opinions based on instinct and feelings.

"The fact that many Americans fail to acknowledge the possibility that the world oil reserves may soon run out" is a classic example of a barrier to critical thinking.

True

A primary goal of critical thinking is learning to examine assumptions and evidence put forth in support of a position before forming a conclusion.

True

Being an autonomous thinker makes it less likely that you will blindly follow orders or give into peer pressure.

True

Cognitive dissonance occurs when new ideas come into direct conflict with our cherished worldviews.

True

The types of resistance can all interfere with self-development when used habitually.

True

The word critical comes from the Greek word kritikos, which means "discernment" or "ability to judge".

True

A patient's insistence on antibiotics to treat his/her viral infection is an example of a(n)

Uninformed opinion

Recognizing and evaluating other people's arguments best fits with what characteristic of a good critical thinker?

analytical skills

Keeping quiet when you hear a joke you know has racist overtones is a form of resistance to critical thinking based on

conformity

The best way to describe movement of college students through the stages of cognitive development is to say that they become

increasingly committed to making decisions based on evidence and well-reasoned argument.

Critical thinking is not just for the classroom; it can help you make decisions from the grocery store to the doctor's office.

true