1. Chapter 1 Critical Thinking www.criticalthinking1ce.nelson.com Invitation to Critical Thinking First Canadian Edition Joel Rudinow Vincent E. Barry Mark Letteri

2. ©2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 1-2 Overview  What is critical thinking?  Root words for critical thinking  What does a critical thinker do?  Benefits of critical thinking  Aspects to critical thinking  Resolving obstacles to critical thinking

3. ©2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 1-3 What is critical thinking?  Critical thinking: the ability to use reason to make decisions A set of concepts A set of concepts Reason as guideReason as guide Sound intellectual protocolsSound intellectual protocols A set of skills and strategies A set of skills and strategies Disciplined intelligenceDisciplined intelligence Rational problem solvingRational problem solving

4. ©2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 1-4 Root words for critical thinking  krinein <Greek Means decision making Means decision making  kritikos <Greek: krinein Means discernment or the ability to judge Means discernment or the ability to judge criticalcritical criticismcriticism criticcritic critiquecritique  Critical thinking concerns decision making and the concepts and skills needed to make good decisions.  Critical thinking as decision making involves exposing problems or faults, but also positive and creative thinking.

5. ©2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 1-5 What does a critical thinker do? A critical thinker  pursues truth  avoids the trap of relativism/subjectivism  exhibits intellectual virtues: patience patience tenacity tenacity humility humility courage courage tolerance tolerance respect respect

6. ©2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 1-6 What does a critical thinker do? A critical thinker  determines what is at issue  looks more deeply into sources of information sources of information assumptions underlying beliefs assumptions underlying beliefs  uses discipline  uses creativity

7. ©2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 1-7 Benefits of critical thinking Critical thinking improves decision making and problem solving:  the individual personal autonomy and meaning personal autonomy and meaning family family education education career career consumer choices consumer choices  the community  civic and political life

8. ©2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 1-8 Aspects of critical thinking  Issues factual factual evaluative evaluative interpretive interpretive mere verbal dispute mere verbal dispute  Claims truth-statement with adequate support truth-statement with adequate support need for awareness of assumptions or unsupported ideas on which claims rest need for awareness of assumptions or unsupported ideas on which claims rest

9. ©2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 1-9 Resolving obstacles to critical thinking Obstacle — relativism or subjectivism  Remedy — patience and tenacity in pursuit of the truth Obstacle — egocentrism and ethnocentricity  Remedy — intellectual humility Obstacle — intimidation by authority  Remedy — Intellectual independence Obstacle — conformism  Remedy — intellectual courage Obstacle — unexamined and inferential assumptions, and presuppositions  Remedy — examination of assumptions and presuppositions