1. Evaluate the Credibility of Claims and Sources
Chapter 6
Evaluate the Credibility of Claims and Sources

2. Assessing the Source—Whom Should I Trust?
As critical thinkers, we are inquisitive truth-seekers with a healthy sense of skepticism
Examples
Claims without Reasons
“Can I trust this person to be telling me the truth or even to know the truth?”
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3. Assessing the Source—Whom Should I Trust?
Cognitive Development and Healthy Skepticism
The issue of trust—in particular, trust of authorities—is connected to our maturation
Strong critical thinkers cultivate a healthy sense of skepticism
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4. Assessing the Source—Whom Should I Trust?
Authority and Expertise
What does authority really mean?
How do authority figures change as we mature? Who do they become?
Examples
How do we see authority figures differently as we mature?
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5. Assessing the Source—Whom Should I Trust?
On-Topic, Up-to-Date, Capable of Explaining
Unbiased and Truthful
Free of Conflicts of Interest, and Acting in the Client’s Interest
Unconstrained, Informed, and Mentally Stable
Twelve Characteristics of a Trustworthy Source
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6. Assessing the Source—Whom Should I Trust?
When evaluating a trusted source on topic X, it would be reasonable for us to trust a person:
Who fulfills all twelve of the criteria below:
Learned in topic X
Experienced in topic X
Speaking about X
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7. Assessing the Source—Whom Should I Trust?
Up-to-date about X
Capable of explaining the basis for their claim or their advice about X
Unbiased
Truthful
Free of conflicts of interest
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8. Assessing the Source—Whom Should I Trust?
Acting in accord with our interests
Unconstrained
Informed about the specifics of the case at hand
Mentally stable
High standards when it comes to establishing and maintaining trust
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9. Levels of Thinking and Knowing
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10. Levels of Thinking and Knowing
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12. Assessing the Substance—What Should I believe?
Donkey Dung Detector
Self-Contradictions and Tautologies
A self-contradictory statement cannot be true
Cultivate a Healthy Sense of Skepticism
Marketing, Spin, Disinformation, and Propaganda
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13. Assessing the Substance—What Should I believe?
Claims without supporting reasons are the stock and trade of people with ulterior motives
Slanted Language and Loaded Expressions
It is difficult to evaluate claims that:
Use language that carries a positive or negative emotional charge
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14. Independent Verification
Can the Claim Be Confirmed?
Can the Claim Be Disconfirmed?
Independent Investigation and the Q-Ray Bracelet Case
Suspending Judgment
Judgments in contexts of uncertainty are unavoidable
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15. Independent Verification
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