critical thinking flashcards

statement

declarative sentence that can be true or false

non statement

a phrase that cannot be evaluated as true or false, such as questions, commands, promises, advice, or exclamations.

what is an agrument?

A group of statements in which some statements, the premises, are intended to support another, the conclusion.

non arguments

sets of statements that do not offer support for a conclusion, such as assertions or opinions without evidential backing.

premise indicator words

because, the reason being, since, assuming that, given that, seeing that

conclusion indicator words

therefore, thus, hence, consequently, as a result, which means that, it must be that

critical thinking

The systematic evaluation or formulation of beliefs or statements by rational standards.

what does critical thinking evaluate?

it evaluates whether beliefs are supported by good reasons

is critical thinking about how or what you think

how you think

critical thinking vs logic

Critical thinking is broader than logic because it also evaluates statements, arguments, evidence, and uses analysis and investigation.

inference

the process of drawing logical conclusions from available evidence and reasoning.

what is logic?

the study of good reasoning, or inference, and the rules that govern it

what is a premise

a statement that provides a reason or support for the conclusion

what is a conclusion

the statement that the premises are intended to support

what are indictor words

Words that frequently accompany arguments and signal that a premise or conclusion is present.

What is the difference between an argument and a non-argument?

An argument gives reasons to support a conclusion; a non-argument does not.

what are the two main categories of obstacles to critical thinking?

psychological obstacles and philosophical obstacles

what is self-interest as an obstacle to critical thinking?

accepting a claim because it advantages your own interests

what is face saving

holding onto a belief or position to avoid embarrassment or admitting that you’re wrong

what is peer pressure

pressure from your peers to accept a statement or act in a certain way

what is an appeal to popularity

using the popularity of a belief a support for accepting the belief

What is an appeal to common practice?

Using what groups of people commonly do as support for a claim.

what is ethnocentrism

the pressure to think that your own group is superior to other groups

what is prejudice?

A judgment or opinion based on insufficient reasons.

What is stereotyping?

Drawing an unwarranted conclusion or generalization about an entire group.

What is subjective relativism?

The view that truth depends solely on what someone believes.

What is the subjectivist fallacy?

Accepting subjective relativism or using it to support a claim.

universalization

all or none, 1 counter example would disprove it

generalization

most, as usual, as a rule, probably

particular

individual person or thing

absolute skepticism

1. 1. no statement is true

2. 2. no one knows anything

fallacy of equivocation

ambiguous (ex. sound is objective and subjective)

social relativism

the view that truth is relative to societies

referential paradox

type of logical paradox that arises when a statement or concept refers to itself in a way that creates a contradiction or an unresolved tension in reasoning

ethical relativism

the philosophical view that there are no universal or objective moral truths — what is considered right or wrong depends on the cultural, social, or individual context in which the judgment is made

5 criteria of a theory

logically valid, must be empirically sound, morally justifiable, cohere with own moral experience, guide behavior

what is worldview

overarching set of beliefs, values, and assumptions that shape how you interpret reality, evaluate evidence, and make decisions