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 thinking

AnalyzingConceptualisingDefiningExaminingInferringListeningQuestioningReasoningSynthesising

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 ambiguity

leaping 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 lives

and invest in our collective future