PHIL 221-002, Spring 2025 Critical Thinking Final Exam Study Questions

Flashcards for PHIL 221-002, Spring 2025 Critical Thinking Final Exam

Mill’s method of concomitant variation

A method for identifying causal relationships by observing how changes in one variable are associated with changes in another variable.

Post hoc fallacy

The fallacy of assuming that because one event follows another, the first event caused the second.

Singular causal claim

A claim about a specific cause of a particular event.

General causal claim

A claim about a general type of cause for a type of event.

Spurious correlation

A correlation between two variables that is not due to a direct causal relationship but rather to a third variable.

Non-spurious correlation

A correlation between two variables that reflects a genuine causal relationship.

Broca's area

A region in the brain that controls speech.

Aphasia

Inability to speak.