Unit 3: The Value of Critical Thinking

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from Professor Goldwater's Unit 3 lecture on critical thinking, truth, and objectivity.

Critical Thinking

An ability, disposition, and character trait—a virtue. It's not just knowing the names of fallacies!

Truth

The state or quality of being true; something that is true.

Objectivity

The quality of being impartial; not influenced by personal feelings or opinions.

Biased

Favoring one side or view point; lacking neutrality

Impartial

Not biased; neutral.

Interested

Having a personal stake or benefit; potential conflict of interest.

Disinterested

Free from bias or self-interest; objective.

Reaction Formation

The tendency of a repressed wish or feeling to be expressed at a conscious level in a contrasting form.

Objective Reality

Reality that exists independently of the human mind.

Objective Truth

Truth that exists independently of the human mind.

Relativism

The theory that knowledge, truth, and morality are relative to a specific individual, culture, or historical context.

Relativist

Someone who believes truth is in the eye of the beholder

speaking truth to power

To express something honestly and frankly, even if it is unpopular or challenges authority.

Infallibility

The quality of being infallible; incapable of making mistakes or being wrong.

Fallibilism

• because one can be wrong, one should be open to new/other ideas

Truism

An obvious, trivial, or trite claim.