Critical Thinking and Rhetorical Biases - Vocabulary Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards drawn from the lecture notes, covering critical thinking concepts, biases, reasoning types, rhetoric, eristic vs sophistry, and common argumentative tactics.

Critical Thinking

The disciplined process of analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing information to form informed conclusions and solve problems.

Analysis

Breaking down complex information into parts to understand underlying structures and assumptions.

Evaluation

Assessing the credibility, relevance, and strength of information, sources, and arguments.

Inference

Drawing logical conclusions from evidence and reasoning.

Problem-Solving

Identifying and addressing challenges using a structured, logical approach.

Reasoning

Using logical thought to connect ideas, identify patterns, and draw conclusions (deductive and inductive).

Reflection

Thinking about thinking; questioning assumptions and considering alternative viewpoints.

Metacognition

Thinking about one’s own thinking process to improve learning and decision making.

Deductive Reasoning

Reasoning from general principles to specific conclusions.

Inductive Reasoning

Reasoning from specific observations to broad generalizations.

SWOT Analysis

A strategic framework assessing Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.

Peer-Reviewed Sources

Publications evaluated by experts in the field before publication.

Availability Bias

Tendency to rely on information that is most noticeable or readily recalled.

Attentional Bias

A bias that makes certain information more salient to attention.

Frequency Illusion

The Baader-Meinhoff phenomenon: after noticing something, it seems to appear more often.

Recency Bias

Giving greater weight to recent events or information.

Primacy Effect

Better recall of first items in a sequence.

Priming Effect

Exposure to one stimulus influences response to another.

Misinformation Effect

False information presented after an event distorts memory.

Observer Expectancy Effect

Researchers’ expectations influence outcomes.

Repetitive Validity Bias

Believing something is true mainly because it has been repeated.

Confabulation Error

Confidently recalling false details as if they were true.

Clustering Illusion

Seeing patterns in random data where none exist.

Just Missed Effect

Belief that the next attempt will succeed after a near miss.

Anchoring Effect

Initial information anchors subsequent judgments.

Negativity Bias

Attending more to negative information than positive.

Normalcy Bias

Underestimating risk during rare or unprecedented events.

Fundamental Attribution Error

Overemphasizing personality causes while underestimating situational factors.

Actor-Observer Bias

Self vs. others: attributing own actions to circumstances, others to character.

Representativeness Error

Assuming a sample represents a whole group based on similarity.

Conjunction Error (Conjunction Fallacy)

Believing a conjunction is more likely than an individual component.

Group Attribution Error

Attributing traits to an entire group from limited evidence about some members.

Subadditivity Effect

Estimating the whole set’s probability as greater than the sum of its parts.

Base Rate Neglect

Ignoring base probabilities when judging likelihoods.

Pathos

Appeal to emotions to persuade an audience.

Ethos

Appeal to credibility or character of the speaker or group.

Logos

Appeal to logic and rational argument.

Rhetoric

The art of persuasive speaking or writing; aims at plausibility and audience orientation.

Eristic Disputation

Combative, adversarial debate aimed at victory rather than truth.

Sophistry

superficially persuasive arguments that lack sound reasoning.

Smooth Delivery

A tactic emphasizing fluency and presentation over substantive content.

No-Name Citing

Citing claims by referring to unspecified supporters to lend credibility.

Name Dropping

Invoking famous people to lend credibility to a point.

Personalizing

Referencing individuals to cast influence or sympathy.

Brand Naming

Calling a claim by a label to imply trustworthiness.

Sloganeering (Dog-Whistle)

Using slogans or coded language to provoke reaction without detail.

Gaslighting

Denying or distorting another’s viewpoint to induce self-doubt.

Partisanship

Strong allegiance to a group that biases judgment.

Flip-Flopping

Switching positions; seen as indecisive or unprincipled.

Style Over Substance

Prioritizing presentation over the underlying evidence.

Old News

Dismissing points as outdated and less relevant.

Fake News

Deliberately false or misleading information presented as news.

Rhetorical Question

A question asked for effect, not requiring an answer.

Hypophora

Asking a question and immediately answering it.

Procatalepsis

Anticipating an objection and answering it before it’s raised.

Irony

Expressing meaning by using language that conveys the opposite.

Idiom

A non-literal phrase whose meaning cannot be inferred from the words.

Metonymy

Referring to something by mentioning one aspect or attribute.

Synecdoche

Using a part to represent the whole, or vice versa.

Allusion

A brief indirect reference to a person, place, or thing.

Euphemism

Milder wording used instead of a harsher term.

Exclamation

A forceful utterance to emphasize a point.

Hyperbole

Deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or effect.

Sincerity Talking

Posing as honest or transparent in presenting a view.

Admiration Posturing

Pretending to admire the audience or opponent to gain favor.

Hind-sight Posturing

Claiming to have known the outcome after the fact.

Ad Hoc Posturing

Adding a contested point as if agreed upon to sway discussion.

Ego Talking

Imputing that a view is held for ego or self-interest.

Straight Talking

Presenting clear, direct language to contrast with abstraction.

Sinuous Delivery

Weaving a convoluted path of points to avoid giving a straight answer.

Sardonic Delivery

Sarcastic or mocking delivery to belittle opposing views.

Ironical Delivery

Restating an opponent’s point with irony to downplay it.

Appeasement

Agreeing with an interlocutor to avoid conflict or gain approval.

Eris, Eristic vs Heuristic vs Dialectic

Eristic emphasizes strife and debate; heuristic enables practical problem solving; dialectic aims at learning and concord.

Group Heuristics

Collective reasoning methods that aid inquiry within a community.

Group Eristics

Group disputation that seeks to win rather than learn, often via combative tactics.

Dialectical Argumentation

Structured debate designed to reach improved understanding or consensus.

Figures of Speech

Non-literal language devices used to persuade or illuminate (e.g., idiom, metonymy, synecdoche, epithet, allusion, euphemism, exclamation, irony).

Idiom

A crafted phrase used in a non-literal way to convey meaning.

Metonymy

Referencing by mentioning one aspect or attribute to stand for the whole.

Synecdoche

Using a part to represent the whole, or vice versa.

Epithet

An attributive nickname or descriptor attached to a name.

Allusion

A brief indirect reference to something with implied significance.

Euphemism

Milder wording replacing an unpleasant or harsh term.

Exclamation

A forceful expression used to provoke emphasis or unity.

Irony

Expressing meaning by using language that conveys the opposite.

Antanagoge

Placing a positive point next to a criticism to soften negativity.

Apophasis

Bringing up a topic by denying that it should be raised.

Litotes

Understatement by negating the opposite of what is meant.

Diasyrmus

Rejecting a position by making a ridiculous comparison.

Metanoia

Qualifying or revising a statement to a stronger or milder form.

Hypophora

Asking a question and then answering it.

Procatalepsis

Anticipating and answering an objection before it’s raised.

Rhetorical Question

A question posed for effect, not for an answer.

Innuendo

A suggestion or hint about something indirectly.

Metanoia (Prose Model)

Rephrasing or refining a statement to improve clarity or impact.

Eristic Disputation (Overview)

A mode of argument aiming to win disputes rather than seek truth.

Sophistry (Overview)

Appealing arguments that seem plausible but lack solid logical grounding.