Introduction
How will you react to what you see and hear?
- Accept passively?
- Asking questions of yourself in an effort to reach a personal decision about the worth of what you have experienced?
Critical Thinking to the Rescue
Critical Thinking
Questions are helpful when you are asked to:
- react critically to an essay or to evidence presented in a textbook,
- judge the quality of a lecture or speech,
- form an argument,
- write an essay based on a reading assignment, or
- participate in class.
The Sponge and Panning for Gold: Alternative Thinking Styles
Sponge approach -- absorbingadvantages
- disadvantages
Panning-for-gold approach
advantages
The two approaches complement each other. To evaluate arguments we must possess knowledge.
An Example of the Panning-For-Gold Approach
Panning for Gold: Asking Critical Questions
You must be an active searcher -- ask questions.Advantage: permits you to ask searching questions even when you know very little about the topic being discussed.
The Myth of the "Right Answer"
physical sciences -social sciences -
Thinking and Feeling
Remember:
Efficiency of Asking the Question, "Who Cares?"
Some controversies will be much more important to you than others.Your time is valuable -- ask "Who Cares?"
Weak-sense and Strong-sense Critical Thinking
weak-sense -purpose -strong-sense -
purpose -Strong-sense critical thinking does not necessarily force us to give up our initial beliefs.
The Satisfaction of Using the Panning-for Gold Approach
----
--
Trying Out New Answers
Search for better answers.
Effective Communication and Critical Thinking
-- will improve the quality of your writing and speaking
The Importance of Practice
You cannot learn simply by being told what to do or by watching others. You have to practice.
Return
to PHL110 Syllabus
Return
to PHL110 Outline
Return
to PHL110 Notes
Return
to Critical
Analysis Home Page
Updated 4.2.01