__What is Critical Thinking? __

Is a process that involves a series of complex thought processes that allows an individual to make  reasoned judgments, asses the way we think, and solves problems effectively.

Levels of Thinking

**Bloom’s Taxonomy of the Cognitive Domain **

Qualities of a Critical Thinker:

• Inquisitive

• Investigative

• Open-Minded

• Evaluates Information

Importance of Critical Thinking:

• In Reading, critical thinking makes you recognize different texts and react to them intelligently. • In Writing, a critical approach provides you with the skills to create well-written text.

Fallacies of Reasoning

Hasty Generalization

• This occurs when a sample is not significant enough to support a generalization about a  population.

• Example: Martha, the foreigner from France is very impolite. French people are very rude.

Argumentum ad Ignoratiam

• This occurs when something is concluded to be true just because it is not proven to be false and  vice versa.

• Example: The writer does not talk about the connection of the killer with the victim’s sister so  there must be none.

Slippery Slope

• This occurs when a series of increasingly superficial and unacceptable consequences is drawn.

Example: If we ban computer shops, then students will not be able to do research. And if they do  not have tools for research, these students will fail their subjects.

Circular Reasoning

• This occurs when the reasoning just goes back to itself.

• Example: Game of Thrones is the best show because the best show is Game of Thrones.

Argumentum ad Populum

• This occurs when an idea is proved based on popular belief or because it has been stated by an  elite of society.

• Example: If my president said that it is okay to kill people just because I thought they’re doing  something bad, then it’s fine with me.

Fallacy of Composition

• This occurs when it’s claimed that a whole is true because a part of is true.

• Example: Your brain is made up of molecules. Molecules doesn’t have consciousness.  Therefore, the brain doesn’t have consciousness.

Argumentum ad Baculum

• This occurs when the argument appeals to human emotions specifically fear, by the use of threat and force.

• Example: “Eliza, I'm telling you that you should say your vowels correctly before the end of the  day or there will be no lunch, no dinner and no chocolates!” -Mr. Higgins in My Fair Lady

Argumentum ad Hominem

• This occurs when the personality of the person is attacked rather than the validity of the  arguments.

• Example: What you’re saying is not true. Apparently, you’re too stupid to know the difference.

False Dilemma

• This occurs when an arguer presents his/her argument as one of only two options despite the presence of multiple possibilities.

• Example: Either you fully devote yourself to the company or you quit. It is either we will live or  we will die tonight.

Complex Question

• When two or more points are rolled into one and the reader is expected to either accept or reject both at the same time, when one point may be satisfactory while the other is not. • Example: Are you done copying your classmate’s answers? Have you stopped cheating on exams?

Appeal to Force

• This occurs when a threat, instead of reasoning, is used to argue.

• Example: If you did not admit that evolution is not real, we’re going to remove you from our  group.

Appeal to Pity

• This occurs when the element of pity is used instead of logical reasoning.

• Example: Please don’t fire me for being absent all month; I have a sick mother and a special  child to support.

Appeal to Consequences

• This occurs when unpleasant consequences of believing something are pointed out to show that  the belief is false.

• Example: You can’t believe that colonialism is bad, because if it were, then we would not be  civilized.

Bandwagon

• This occurs when an argument is considered to be valid because it is what the majority thinks. • Example: Most Filipinas want to have fair skin because they think they look beautiful. Therefore, having fair skin must be the real standard of beauty.

Anonymous Authority

• The authority in question is not mentioned or named.

• Example: Experts claim that eating peanuts causes pimples.

False Analogy

• This occurs when a writer assumes that two concepts that are similar in other ways. • Example: Drugs are like massages: they make you feel good.

Accident

• This occurs when a general rule is applied to a situation, even when it should be an exception. • Example: Jaywalking is not allowed, so you should not have done that even when you were  being chased by terrorists.

Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc

• This occurs when the arguer claims that since event A happened before event B, A is the cause of  B.

• Example: Dina saw a black cat when they went home. Along the way, they crashed into a tree.  The black cat must be the reason why they met an accident.

Wrong Direction

• This occurs when the direction between the cause and effect is reversed.

• Example: Liver damage leads to alcoholism.

Complex Cause

• This occurs when the explanation for an event is reduced to one thing when there are other factors  that also contributed to the event.

• Example: We were not able to solve the problem because of limited time, even if all the other  groups were able to do so.

Irrelevant Conclusion

• This occurs when an argument that is supposed to prove something concludes something else  instead.

• Example: We must support the fight for gender equality between men and women. Women have  suffered enough violence at home. Violence against women must be stopped.

Straw Man

• This occurs when the position of the opposition is twisted so that it is easier to refute. • Example: Opponent: We should relax the law governing the allowed smoking areas in the city. Fallacy: We should not do so, because the number of smokers might increase.

Affirming the consequent

• In any argument of the form: If A is true then B is true; If B is true therefore A is true. • Example: If you are drinking wine, you have a problem. Therefore, if you have a problem, you  are drinking wine.

Denying the antecedent

• In any argument of the form: If A is true then B is true; If A is not true then B is not true.  • Example: If you are drinking wine, you have a problem. Therefore, if you are not drinking wine, you do not have a problem.

Inconsistency

• It occurs when arguments contradict one another.

• Example: Frank is older than Jake, Jake is older than Noli and Noli is older than Frank.