Critical Thinking Vocabulary

Ambiguous

Having 2 or more possible meanings. either through deliberate intention or due to inexactness of expression.

EX: Unspecific weather report ) not sure what is going to happen)

Assume

To take for granted or presuppose

EX: I thought he was coming but he didn’t show up.

Assumption

A statement accepted or supposed as true without proof or demonstration

EX: That a meeting will be productive

Bias

A mental leaning or inclination

EX: Assuming a male employee is better suited for leadership, while a female employee is more suited instead.

Concept

An idea or thought, especially a generalized idea of a thing or class of things.

EX: Abstract ones such as freedom or justice.

Consequence

The effect, result, or outcome of something occurring earlier.

EX: Result of an action

Critical Thinking

The most fundamental concept is simple and intuitive.

EX: Making a decision with concise thought.

Egocentricity

The tendency to view everything in relationship to one’s self.

EX: Being self-centered

Empirical

Relying or based on experiment, observation, or experience rather than concepts or theories.

EX: clinical drug trial

Evidence

The data on which a judgement or conclusion might be based on; something that tends to prove

EX: Convicting a criminal

Implication/Imply

Claims or truths that follow from other claims or truths.

EX: Suggest

Indoctrination

Instilling within one a usually partisan (prejudice) or sectarian opinion, point of view or principle.

EX: Cults isolating members to control information

Infer/Inference

A step of the mind by which one concludes that something is so in light of something else being so.

Insight

The ability to see clearly and deeply understand the inner nature or underlying truth of things.

EX: Reveals the “why” behind a trend.

Irrational/Irrationality

Lacking the power to reason; contrary to reason or logic

EX: unreasonable

Logic

Correct reasoning or the study of correct reasoning and its foundations.

EX: Truth or justification

Perspective

Seeing info, data and experiences in a meaningful relationship with one another

EX: logic in the mind of the thinker

Prejudice

Judgement, belief, opinion or POV- favorable or unfavorable- formed before the relevant facts are known

EX: against diff. races, groups, religions, etc

Proof

Evidence or reasoning so strong or certain as to demonstrate the truth or acceptability of a conclusion beyond a reasonable doubt

Purpose

Object, aim, goal, something one is hoping to accomplish

Rationalize

To ascribe to one’s acts, opinions, etc to causes that seem reasonable and valid but that are not the true causes.

Reciprocity

Empathetically entering into the point of view or line of reasoning of others

EX: returning a favor

Relevance

Bearing upon or directly related to the matter or question at hand

Sociocentricity

Belief in the inherent superiority of one’s own group or culture

EX: Nazi

Socratic Critical Thinker

Critical thinkers who use the skills of critical thinking to develop and foster fair-minded reasoning and thought

EX: Why?

Socratic Questioning

Based on the methods of Socrates, a mode of questioning that deeply probes the meaning

Sophistic Critical Thinkers/ Sophistry

Skilled thinkers who use the tools of critical thinking to manipulate others, usually to serve the selfish or group interests.

Theory

Coherent group of general propositions used as principles of explanation for a class of phenomena

Vested Interest

Promoting personal advantage, usually at the expense of others

EX: Lobby Congress

Worldview

Way of looking at and interpreting the world, based largely on out assumptions and conceptual orientation