1. Warm-Up If you were to divide the country into 5 economic classes, ranging from the richest to the poorest, what percentage of the country’s wealth would each class hold? In your opinion, how much wealth should each class hold?

2. Harvard and Duke Study

3. A critical thinker understands: Understands that people have different assumptions about the world Understands that these assumptions form the basis for their opinions Examines these assumptions

4. Value vs. Reality assumptions What is right? What should we do or be? (Value) What is true? What do we take for granted as a given? (Reality)

5. Reality Assumptions Reality assumptions are beliefs about what is true and factual about the world.  An assumption can be defined as a belief, usually taken for granted, that is based on the experience, observations, or desires of an individual or group.

6. Examples of reality assumptions Some people assume that anyone can change and, therefore, that any prisoner can be rehabilitated. Other people assume that there are individuals who are “career criminals” with no hope of being rehabilitated.

7. Examples of reality assumptions Some people assume that “love” is an emotion that may or may not be permanent. Another person assumes that “love” is a commitment that is not based on emotional changes.

8. Why do we need to look at Reality Assumptions? Individuals make assumptions about reality, whether we realize it or not. What is sometimes assumed to be factual is not actually true. When we build an argument on assumptions that are not ground in fact, our arguments are faulty. What we recommend in our argument will not achieve our desired results/ends.