To have a conscious mind,
reasoning, remembering
experiences, making rational
decisions, etc.
To employ one's mind rationally
and objectively in evaluating or
dealing with a given situation.
Where do thoughts come
from?
If you were a “brain in a
vat,” would you have
thoughts?
What is the product of
thinking?
Is “feeling” different from
thinking?
What are thoughts “made
of”?
What is it?
How is it distinct from just
“thinking”?
How is being a critical thinker
different from being a critical
person?
Let’s think of “critical thinking” as
“critiquing” thinking.
Are some
thoughts and
ideas better or
worse than
others?
How do we
determine what
to believe and
the degree to
which we should
believe?
Foundation for Critical Thinking says
we should weigh claims against
Universal Intellectual Values
Clarity
Accuracy
Precision
Consistency
Relevance
Good Evidence
Good Reasons
Depth
Breadth
To think rationally is to
make inferences from
beliefs that are justified by
the laws of logic.
If it is sunny and warm, Tim
and Tina are at the beach. It
is sunny and warm, so Tim
and Tina are at the beach.
Only one of these is a
rational thought.
If it is sunny and warm, Tim
and Tina are at the beach.
Tim and Tina are at the beach,
so it is sunny and warm.
The laws of logic tell us what
inferences we can make.
Examines the structures or
elements of thought
implicit in all reasoning.
Inference: if A is true, then
B is true.
Inference: if B is false, then
A is false.
and why are you thinking it…..
4 = True
3 = Probably True
2 = Probably False
1 = False
Psychic and/or
spiritual healers can
impact the health of
the human body
with their minds.
55% of Americans believe in
psychic or spiritual healing
or the power of the human
mind to heal the body.
--According to a 2005 Gallup Survey as
reported in How to Think about Weird
Things by Theodore Schick.
4 = True
3 = Probably True
2 = Probably False
1 = False
Some people have ESP
(extrasensory
41% of Americans believe
perception—the ability in ESP.
to read minds).
--According to a 2005 Gallup Survey as
reported in How to Think about Weird
Things by Theodore Schick.
4 = True
3 = Probably True
2 = Probably False
1 = False
People on earth are
sometimes
possessed by the
Devil or other
demonic spirits.
42% of Americans say
“true.”
--According to a 2005 Gallup Survey
as reported in How to Think about
Weird Things by Theodore Schick.
4 = True
3 = Probably True
2 = Probably False
1 = False
Extraterrestrial beings
have visited Earth at some
time in the past.
24% of Americans say
“true.”
--According to a 2005 Gallup Survey as
reported in How to Think about Weird
Things by Theodore Schick.
4 = True
3 = Probably True
2 = Probably False
1 = False
Ghosts or spirits of dead
people can come back to
inhabit the earth in
certain places and
situations.
31% of Americans say
“true.”
--According to a 2005 Gallup Survey as
reported in How to Think about Weird
Things by Theodore Schick.
4 = True
3 = Probably True
2 = Probably False
1 = False
Some people are
clairvoyant—that is, they
have the mental ability to
predict the future.
26% of Americans say
“true.”
--According to a 2005 Gallup Survey as
reported in How to Think about Weird
Things by Theodore Schick.
4 = True
3 = Probably True
2 = Probably False
1 = False
Some people have the
ability to communicate
mentally with or hear
from someone who has
died.
21% of Americans say
“true.”
--According to a 2005 Gallup Survey as
reported in How to Think about Weird
Things by Theodore Schick.
4 = True
3 = Probably True
2 = Probably False
1 = False
The biblical story of
the flood and Noah’s
Ark is literally true.
Objective or subjective claim?
43% of 190 surveyed high
school biology and life science
teachers say “true” or
“probably true.”
--According to a by sociologist Ray Eve
and anthropologist Dana Dunn at U of
Texas and as reported in How to Think
about Weird Things by Theodore Schick.
4 = True
3 = Probably True
2 = Probably False
1 = False
Dinosaurs and
humans inhabited
Earth at the same
time.
19% of 190 surveyed high
school biology and life science
teachers say “true” or
“probably true.”
Objective or subjective claim?
--According to a by sociologist Ray Eve and
anthropologist Dana Dunn at U of Texas
and as reported in How to Think about
Weird Things by Theodore Schick.
There is a God.
PHIL 1 in summer is a waste of
time.
The physical world “out
there” (i.e. reality) exists
independent of people’s
perceptions.
Travis likes to play golf.
Slavery is an injustice.
Jessica is a hard-working
student.
Ideas like justice, courage,
and love are fixed and real
mental objects and not just
what people think they are.
Life is good.
Abortion is immoral.
Proposition: A statement
that something is or isn’t the
Abortion deprives an innocent
case.
human being of his/her life.
Therefore, abortion is immoral.
Proposition are always
either true or false (“true” &
“false” are truth values).
Abortion is immoral because it is
the termination of a pregnancy.
Argument: One proposition
inferred from one or more
Abortion is immoral because it
other propositions OR a
deprives an innocent human
claim supported by reasons being of his/her life.
for its truth.
Abortion deprives an innocent
human being of his/her life.
Therefore, abortion is immoral.
Abortion is immoral because it
deprives an innocent human
being of his/her life.
Clarity
Accuracy
Precision
Consistency
Relevance
Good Evidence
Good Reasons
Depth
Breadth
Do miracles occur?
Questions on 1-1, 15, or 1-6?
Miracles occur in the world.
Issue
Conclusion
Premise
Cogency
There are events that occur in the world
that are not explained by physical and
natural laws or scientific theories.
Therefore, miracles occur in the world.
It is safe to say that miracles occur in the
world because most people believe in God
and believe God can and does cause events
that are not bound by physical and natural
laws.