Critical Thinking and Logic
Define Critical Thinking
is the art of thinking about thinking while thinking in order to make thinking better.
Richard Paul and Linda Elder in Critical Thinking: Tools for Taking Charge of Your
Learning and Your Life
Critical thinking comprises which three interlinking dimensions:
1 Analyzing one's own thinking- breaking it down into its component parts.
2 Evaluating one's own thinking- identifying its weaknesses while recognizing its
strengths.
3 Improving one's own thinking- reconstructing it to make it better.
Impediments to sound thinking include
Making generalizations unsupported by evidence.
Letting a stereotype* shape our thinking.
Viewing the world from one fixed vantage point.
Forming false beliefs.
Dismissing or attacking viewpoints that conflict with our own.
Thinking deceptively about our own experiences.
Critical thinking is characteristically:
self-directed
self-disciplined
self-monitored
self-corrective
egocentrism
the tendency to view everything in relationship to oneself
sociocentrism
or the assumption that one's own social group is inherently superior to all others
First-order thinking
(ordinary thinking)
Spontaneous and non-reflective
Contains insight, prejudice, good and bad reasoning
Indiscriminately combined
Second-order thinking
(critical thinking)
First-order thinking that is consciously realized (i.e., analyzed, assessed, and
reconstructed)
Weak Sense Critical Thinking
, Ignore the flaws in their own thinking
Often seek to win an argument through intellectual trickery or deceit.
makes no good faith effort to consider alternative viewpoints.
Lacks fair-mindedness.
Strong sense critical Thinking
A consistent pursuit of what is fair and just.
strive to be ethical
Will entertain arguments with which they do not agree
Change their views when confronted with superior reasoning
think reasonably and not manipulatively
To be fair-minded is to
consider all relevant opinions equally without regard to one's own sentiments or selfish
interests. It is also to do so without reference to the sentiments or selfish interests of
one's friends, community, or nation.
Which of the following statements best defines critical thinking?
thinking about thinking in order to make thinking better
Critical thinking involves_______ one's own thinking
analyzing, evaluating, and improving
Which of the following is not a bad habit of thought?
reasoning from assumptions that are not one's own
Which term means the tendency to view everything in relationship to oneself?
egocentrism
In thinking through a problem, the critical thinker does all of the following except
gathers information that supports his/her presuppositions
Another term for critical thinking is:
second-order thinking
Hiding or distorting evidence illustrates which of the following?
weak-sense thinking
Critical thinking values ________ of thought over ______ of thought.
depth/speed
Bringing an unbiased perspective to all relevant viewpoints exemplifies which of
the following?
fair-mindedness
The ability to reconstruct others' viewpoints exemplifies which of the following
traits?
intellectual empathy
To admit flaws in one's own thinking is an expression of:
intellectual integrity
The opposite of intellectual conformity is:
Define Critical Thinking
is the art of thinking about thinking while thinking in order to make thinking better.
Richard Paul and Linda Elder in Critical Thinking: Tools for Taking Charge of Your
Learning and Your Life
Critical thinking comprises which three interlinking dimensions:
1 Analyzing one's own thinking- breaking it down into its component parts.
2 Evaluating one's own thinking- identifying its weaknesses while recognizing its
strengths.
3 Improving one's own thinking- reconstructing it to make it better.
Impediments to sound thinking include
Making generalizations unsupported by evidence.
Letting a stereotype* shape our thinking.
Viewing the world from one fixed vantage point.
Forming false beliefs.
Dismissing or attacking viewpoints that conflict with our own.
Thinking deceptively about our own experiences.
Critical thinking is characteristically:
self-directed
self-disciplined
self-monitored
self-corrective
egocentrism
the tendency to view everything in relationship to oneself
sociocentrism
or the assumption that one's own social group is inherently superior to all others
First-order thinking
(ordinary thinking)
Spontaneous and non-reflective
Contains insight, prejudice, good and bad reasoning
Indiscriminately combined
Second-order thinking
(critical thinking)
First-order thinking that is consciously realized (i.e., analyzed, assessed, and
reconstructed)
Weak Sense Critical Thinking
, Ignore the flaws in their own thinking
Often seek to win an argument through intellectual trickery or deceit.
makes no good faith effort to consider alternative viewpoints.
Lacks fair-mindedness.
Strong sense critical Thinking
A consistent pursuit of what is fair and just.
strive to be ethical
Will entertain arguments with which they do not agree
Change their views when confronted with superior reasoning
think reasonably and not manipulatively
To be fair-minded is to
consider all relevant opinions equally without regard to one's own sentiments or selfish
interests. It is also to do so without reference to the sentiments or selfish interests of
one's friends, community, or nation.
Which of the following statements best defines critical thinking?
thinking about thinking in order to make thinking better
Critical thinking involves_______ one's own thinking
analyzing, evaluating, and improving
Which of the following is not a bad habit of thought?
reasoning from assumptions that are not one's own
Which term means the tendency to view everything in relationship to oneself?
egocentrism
In thinking through a problem, the critical thinker does all of the following except
gathers information that supports his/her presuppositions
Another term for critical thinking is:
second-order thinking
Hiding or distorting evidence illustrates which of the following?
weak-sense thinking
Critical thinking values ________ of thought over ______ of thought.
depth/speed
Bringing an unbiased perspective to all relevant viewpoints exemplifies which of
the following?
fair-mindedness
The ability to reconstruct others' viewpoints exemplifies which of the following
traits?
intellectual empathy
To admit flaws in one's own thinking is an expression of:
intellectual integrity
The opposite of intellectual conformity is:
