Critical Thinking Part 2

What are the elements of reasoning used in critical thinking? (8)

1. Concepts

2. Implications and consequences

3. Information

4. Question at issue

5. Points of view

6. Assumptions

7. Inferences

8. Purpose of the thinking

Purpose

What is the objective of my thinking?

Goals?

Objectives?

Question at issue

The issue that needs solving

Is this the right question?

Problem?

Points of view

What's my viewpoint? Would it look differently from another perspective?

Frame of reference, perspective, orientation

Information, data, evidence

Data, facts, sources, experiences

Is it accurate, fair, and clear? Are there alternate sources? Do we need more?

Concepts and ideas

A group of ideas or facts lumped into a theory, principle, or axiom.

What concepts (theories, axioms, principles) am I relying on? Do others accept them as well?

Theories, definitions, axioms, laws, principles, models

Assumptions

Conscious or unconscious

What beliefs and values influence my thinking? Are they balanced and fair?

Presupposition, taking for granted

Implications and consequences

What might the outcome be? On what? For whom?

Inferences

Conscious conclusions that you draw from something

What am I inferring here that is unstated? Is it valid?

Interpretations, conclusions, solutions

System 1

Fast, instinctive, emotional unconscious; utilizes pattern recognition

System 2

Slow, deliberate, logical, conscious; discerns new patterns

What are some common thinking errors? (3)

1. Asking the wrong question or not asking in the right way

2. Thinking too quickly

3. Stereotypes / Bias

Describe the cognitive bias: Halo effect

Interpreting a single effect or trait to define an entire person or effect

Example: "First impressions"

They were short with me so they must be a bad person

or

They were late so they must be disorganized and sloppy

Describe the cognitive bias: Belief perseverance

-Beliefs (cultural, personal, real, helpful, unhelpful) shape our interactions - we each have our own biases

-We tend to favor our own preference leading to "confirmation bias"

Example: If we believe that a certain route to work always has traffic we will tend to leave earlier, regardless if there is actually traffic on the road at that given time

Describe the following thinking error: Deflecting

Answering the wrong question steers the conversation away from the intent

-Lack of focus for discussion makes critical thinking difficult

What is the element of reasoning?

The why of a problem

Purpose

What is the element of reasoning?

The issue or problem that needs solving

Question at hand

What is the element of reasoning?

The different perspectives we look at a problem for

Point of view

What is the element of reasoning?

The facts that we are looking at

Information, data, evidence

What is the element of reasoning?

Theories or principles that are formed from the facts we know

Concepts and ideas

What is the element of reasoning?

The conscious or unconscious beliefs or values that shape our thinking

Assumptions

What is the element of reasoning?

Thinking about the effects or outcomes of our plan / thinking

Implications / consequences

What is the element of reasoning?

The conscious conclusions that you draw from something

Inferences