Introduction to Ethics Chapter 3

What is logic?

the branch of philosophy that deals with the principles of good thinking and reasoning processes

What is critical thinking?

the active and systematic process of communication , problem-solving, evaluation, analysis, synthesis, and reflection to support sound decision-making and guide action

What is an argument?

a series of statements that work together to establish the truth of a point

What is a fallacy?

an illogical argument that appears logical at first glance and misleads or deceives

What is confirmation bias?

filtering evidence based on what supports your existing beliefs

What is group think?

letting other people or groups do your thinking for you

According to Socrates, what kind of life is not worth living?

the unexamined life

According to Plato, what can happen to people who do not think critically?

they become prisoners of other people’s ideas

What is one major benefit of critical thinking?

intellectual freedom and independence

According to Aristotle, what makes humans unique?

the ability to reason

According to Nietzsche, what is necessary for self-creation?

independent thinking

What is the principle of non-contradiction?

opposite statements cannot both be true of the same thing at the same time

Example of violating the principle of non-contradiction?

claiming someone is both married and a bachelor at the same time

Why can’t a triangle have one side?

because it violated logical principles

What does confirmation bias create?

a personal echo chamber

What is the Dunning-Kruger effect?

people overestimating their abilities in area where they lack skill

Why is group think dangerous?

groups can be wrong just like individuals can be wrong

What is open-mindedness?

willingness to consider ideas and viewpoints different from your own

What is provincialism?

seeing things only from a narrow point of view

What is invincible ignorance?

refusing to consider evidence or arguments that challenge your beliefs

What is skepticism?

an attitude of doubt that requires evidence before accepting claims as true

What is fair-mindedness?

evaluating arguments objectively and impartially

Why is humility important in critical thinking?

because critical thinkers recognize their own limitations

What are the three parts of an argument?

premises, structure, and conclusion

What is a premise?

a statement that provides support for a conclusion

What is a conclusion?

the claim the argument is trying to prove

What id deductive reasoning?

reasoning where the conclusion follow necessarily from the premises

What makes a deductive argument valid?

if the conclusion must be true whenever the premises are true

What is a sound argument?

a valid deductive argument with true premises?

What is inductive reasoning?

reasoning that makes a conclusion probable rather than certain

What makes an inductive argument strong?

the premises make the conclusion highly probable

What is a cogent argument?

a strong inductive argument with true premises

What is an Ad Hominem fallacy?

attacking the person instead of the argument

Example of Ad Hominem?

“don’t listen to her argument; she’s a terrible person”

What is equivocation?

using a word with multiple meanings to create confusion

What is Post Hoc?

assuming that because one event happened before another, it caused it

What is a slippery slope?

claiming one event will inevitably lead to extreme consequences

What is the statistical correlation fallacy?

assuming correlation automatically means causation

What is false authority?

relying on an unqualified expert

What is appeal to popularity?

claiming something is true because many people believe it

What is appeal to emotion?

using feelings instead of evidence

What is appeal to ignorance?

claiming something is true because it hasn’t been proven false

What is inconsistency?

holding contradictory positions

What is a straw man?

misrepresenting an opponent’s argument to make it easier to attack

What is a red herring?

introducing an irrelevant issue to distract them from the real issue

What is “two wrongs makes a right”?

justifying wrongdoing because someone else did something wrong first