Summary
In this chapter, we explored some of the basic criteria for critical thinking. We looked at eight steps in processing an idea and then differentiated between formal and informal fallacies. We saw that formal fallacies depend on the form of the argument, while informal fallacies often appeal to psychological states in the absence of context.
Key Takeaways
- Rational, objective thinking is a hallmark of science.
- The eight processes used in critical thinking are 1) ask questions and be willing to wonder, 2) define the problem, 3) examine the evidence, 4) analyze assumptions and biases, 5) avoid emotional reasoning, 6) avoid oversimplification, 7) consider other interpretations, and 8) tolerate uncertainty.
- A fallacy is a mistake in reasoning.
- A formal fallacy is an argument whose form is invalid.
- Informal fallacies are those that cannot be identified without understanding the concepts involved in the argument
Acknowledgements
Parts of this chapter were adapted from the following Open Education Resources:
- “1.1 Psychology as a Science” in Psychology – 1st Canadian Edition by Walters (2020), via Thompson Rivers University, is used under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.
- Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking by Matthew J. Van Cleave (2016), via B.C. Open Collection, is used under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.
