2007 CRITICAL THINKING CONFERENCE FOR CCRI FACULTY
May 23rd, 2007
CRITICAL THINKING AND
BELIEFS
A DELICATE INTERPLAY
Presentation by Dr Bob Zunjic, Ph.D.
CRITICAL THINKING

UNCOMMON, EXTRAORDINARY, BIZZARE AND
YET TRENDY
Wiley
CRITICAL THINKING
A four component definition




A disciplined thinking proceeding according to
intellectual standards.
The art of analyzing and evaluating truth claims.
The skill of identifying prejudices and
overcoming biases.
A set of mental dispositions enabling skilled
judgment and reasonable decisions.
Belief, (def.) = Mental acceptance of and conviction in
the truth, actuality, or validity of something.



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Knowledge is justified
belief (Plato).

Beliefs define our identity
– we are what we believe.

We cherish our beliefs,
we cling to them. They
determine our actions.
Cognitive value
Psychological value
Practical role
APPROACHES TO BELIEFS

RELIGION INDUCES
BELIEFS
Jesus: I am the truth.

IDEOLOGY INSTILLS
BELIEFS
Mussolini: You gotta believe this is true.

PHILOSOPHY
QUESTIONS BELIEFS
Pontius Pilate/Socrates: What is truth?
The Challenge of CRITICAL
THINKING

CRITICAL THINKING SCRUTINIZES BELIEFS
AS TO THEIR RATIONALE AND VIABILITY

Why do we need critical thinking? Why don’t we
simply apply logical analysis to our beliefs? Are
we not compromising the purity and the
accuracy of logic by introducing Critical Thinking
into the game?
NO, SUMMER TIME IS NOT THE
REASON.
Wiley
Beliefs and language
Logic tackles (though peripherally) the relation between
informative use of language and our beliefs as well as
the relation between expressive use and our attitudes.
However, the question how and why people accept
certain beliefs it relegates to psychology, anthropology or
ethics.
Common sources of our beliefs are outside the scope of
logical analysis – it deals only with the relation between
the conclusion and a given evidence.
LOGIC DISREGARDS




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IRREGULARITIES OF NATURAL LANGUAGE
ACTUAL FORMS OF COMMUNICATION
PSYCHOLOGICAL (mental) COMPONENTS OF
REASONING
CULTURAL FACTORS IN SHAPING OUR VIEWS
SOCIETAL INFLUENCES IN THINKING
These are ALL EXTREMELY relevant aspects for the study
of beliefs.
Outside of Logic Concern

Faulty reasoning, mental barriers, psychological,
cultural and social factors of thinking.

The latter are precisely relevant for beliefs. We
are not computers who believe only what is
rational, true and correct. On the contrary we
believe many strange (and inconsistent) things.
WHAT DO WE BELIEVE?
Some odd beliefs:
o
o
o
o
o
o
Mythical civilizations existed 41%
Places can be haunted
37%
Telekinesis is possible
28%
Some UFOs are spaceships 25%
Big Foot will be discovered 18%
Psychics can foresee future men 8%
Source: Baylor Religion Survey, Sept. 2006
women 18%
Credulity
“Spiritual Sex Channeler: Medium Helps Grieving Widows
Make Love to their Dead Husbands” Weekly World
News, March 11, 2000.
Some Common American Beliefs
Adapted from: G.R. Kirby, J. R. Goodpaster, Thinking, Pearson/Prentice Hall 2006, pp. 16-
17.
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It’s OK to kill animals for food or because of aggravation. However, the Jains of India
consider it sinful to kill even insects. In India there are temples where people feed
rats and snakes.
It is morally wrong to go outside without clothing, no matter where you live. However,
women in the Netherlands feel quite comfortable gardening in their backyard topless.
And many tribes in Africa go without clothing or wear very little of it.
Public consumption of alcohol is considered inappropriate or illegal. It is common in
many countries (including my native country) to drink beer in the street, on the beach
or even in the means of public transportation. Nobody policies students in residence
halls for alcohol use.
Marrying for reasons other than love is immoral. Throughout history and even today
marriages are arranged for practical reasons; to strengthen family ties, for
companionship, and for healthy offspring. Love grows later. The divorce rate is much
lower in prearranged marriages then in those from love. Not only because women do
not have alternatives and there is a strong cultural pressure. The expectations are
lower and more realistic. Recent neurological studies show that the state of
infatuation has the same wave-pattern as mental disorders.
Fundamental, polarizing beliefs
Source: ABC, CBS News Polls
Yes
No
DK
God
94%
5%
1%
Death
Penalty
Same Sex
Marriage
Abortion
65%
26%
1%
24%
66%
10%
77%
22%
1%
Non logical sources of beliefs
1.
2.
3.
FAMILY
UPBRINGING
CULTURE
SOCIETY
RELIGION
TRADITION
1st Source: Family
PATINKIN’S STORY
“Some say religion is the core identity of most Americans, but if you ask
me, there’s another affiliation that runs deeper. Political Party. It’s
one thing to be raised in the church, or synagogue, but being born
Democrat or Republican – now that’s serious. I was born Democrat.
There’s a picture of me at age 3 next to my parents while they
worked on Adlai’ Stevenson’s campaign in 1956, a time just about
everyone else was going Republican for Eisenhower. In truth, aging,
taxes and mortgage payments have made me more conservative,
and as a journalist I am officially independent, but as said: raised a
Democrat, always a Democrat.”
Source: Pro Jo
2ND SOURCE: Culture & society
The place in which we grow up shapes our
manners of conduct, dress code, work ethic,
style, etc.
 Cultural attitudes influence our taste,
preferences, views.
 Cultural patterns are source of strength and
comfort but could blind us for opposing
evidence.
 Societal attitudes shape our lives but societal
assumptions can inhibit Critical Thinking.

3RD SOURCE: RELIGION AND TRADITION
Simple facts:
 Religion of your ancestors and country
determines your religious beliefs.
 Your religious beliefs and traditional values
have a tremendous impact on your
thinking.
 Your tradition influences your conduct.
BELIEFS INFLUENCE VIEWS
SOURCE: Time Magazine, October 30th, 2006
Political views influence beliefs
Full Marriage
Rights
Civil Union
Partnerships
No Legal
Recognition
Unsure
24%
26%
40%
10%
Republic 9%
ans
Democra 34%
ts
Indepen 24%
dent
27%
58%
6%
23%
33%
10%
32%
33%
10%
Adults
ENCULTURATION DEF. The process of
inducing/imbibing values and preferences, including religious beliefs,
political ideas, sexual mores and work ethic through culture.
 TESTING 10 FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS.

ANSWERS DEFINE US.

WHAT IF THEY ARE ACQUIRED MOSTLY BY ACCEIDENT OR
HABIT?
TEST KEY
NonNonreflective reflective
Stance
Stance
Critical
Stance
Critical
Stance
Number
Question
Y
N
Y
N
Letter
Question
N
N
Y
Y
Scaling
Letter
Questions
Less than 18:
Dogmatic
Less than 25:
Needs more
reflection
Between 25 and
30: Not dogmatic
More than 25:
Critical attitude
OUR BELIEFS ARE DEEPLY
ROOTED BUT CONTINGENT
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If you were born in another culture you would
espouse different religious views.
If you were raised in another country you would
probably have different political views.
If you were raised by different parents you would
have different habits and taste.
Parallel:
Unexamined beliefs = preconceived notions.
Science of Preconceived
Notions
DIFFICULTY

OUR BELIEFS OFTEN PERSIST BY IGNORING OR SUPPRESSING
COUNTER-EVIDENCE.

MANY BELIEFS ARE FULFILLING AND PLEASING.

ANALYZING BELIEFS CAN HURT FEELINGS AND LEAD TO PERSONAL
CRISIS.
BAD ALTERNATIVE – IGNORING
EVIDENCE
Wiley’s
Argument
from not
listening.
VALUE OF REFLECTION
“An unexamined life is not worth of living.”
vs. “Ignorance is a bliss.”
CRITICAL QUESTIONS

WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THAT YOUR RELIGION IS TRUE?

WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THAT YOUR IDEOLOGICAL AND
POLITICAL POSITION IS RIGHT?

WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THAT YOUR VALUES ARE GOOD?
ETHICS OF BELIEFS

DUTIES:
- QUESTIONING ALL OUR BELIEFS
- CORRECTING WRONG BELIEFS
COLLEGE LEVEL EDUCATION
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Students are surprised to learn that professors
are not interested in the content of their beliefs.
College education is less about imparting
knowledge and more about learning how to
learn.
NOT WHAT to think and believe.
ONLY HOW TO THINK.
ROLE OF CRITICAL
THINKING

Critical Thinking is about the quality of reasons to believe
what we believe as well as about the viability of our
beliefs. It is about WHY do we believe what we believe.

W.K.C. Clifford: “The question of right or wrong has to do
with the origin of man’s belief, not the matter of it; not
what it was, but how he got it; not whether it turned out
to be true or false, but whether he had a right to believe
on such evidence as was before him.”
Dare to think!
Aude cogitari.
Against immaturity
"Enlightenment rejects self-caused immaturity. We
are immature when our thinking is guided by
another person. Such immaturity is self-caused if
it arises from a lack of determination and lack of
courage to use our intelligence without being
guided by another. Sapere Aude! Have the
courage to use your own intelligence! This is the
motto of the Enlightenment." (Kant, What is
Enlightenment? 1784)