Purpose (ele) - -Goal or objective of reasoning.
-Describes the desired outcome or intent
Question (ele) - -All reasoning is directed at some
... [Show More] question.
-How do you clearly frame the question, problem, or issue?
Assumptions (ele) - -Reasoning has to begin somewhere. They lie at the heart of arguments
-Everything we take for granted as true in order to figure out something else.
Implications (ele) - -Delivers us to a position or viewpoint about something.
-The implications/consequences of our reasoning are what extend beyond the position we reach.
Information (ele) - -Must determine what information is relevant to what we are critically thinking about.
-Rely on information to direct us to a supportable conclusion.
Concepts (ele) - -General categories or ideas by which we interpret or classify information used in our thinking.
-Critical thinking requires us to be aware of the concepts we hold and consider how they drive our reasoning.
Inferences (ele) - -To make inferences is to come to conclusions.
-Example: "One drives by a store and sees no cars in the parking lot or lights in the window, one infers that store is closed."
Clarity (std) - -Clearness
-Our thinking is clear when it is easily understood.
-Cannot determine either the accuracy or relevance of a statement if it is unclear.
Question: "Could you elaborate on that point?"
Accuracy (std) - -To represent something as it actually is.
-Think accurately when our reasoning expresses how thing actually are.
Question: "How can we determine if that is true?"
Precision (std) - -Reasoning is precise when it is specific, exact, and detailed.
-Something may be clear but not precise
Example: "I am going to the party soon"(Clear but imprecise) vs "I am going to the party at 8pm. (Clear and precise)"
Relevance (std) - -Something is relevant when it pertains to the problem we seek to solve.
-Thinking is relevant when it focuses on what is important to the question.
Question: "How does this idea relate to the issue?"
Depth (std) - -Depth directs us to delve deeper into an issue.
-Addresses those complexities in an intellectually responsible way.
Question: "How do you take into account the problems in the question?"
Breadth (std) - -Considers the issue at hand from every relevant viewpoint (Broad)
-Directs us to look around us, at alternative or opposing perspectives
Question: "Do we need to consider another point of view?"
Logic (std) - -Thoughts and the order they are organized are mutually supportive and make sense in combination.
Question: "Does all this make sense together?"
Significance (std) - -Concentrate on the most important information relevant to the issue at hand
Question: "Which of these ideas is most important?"
Fairness (std) - - Thinking is fair when it is justified
-Thinking that satisfies all other fundamental standards satisfies the standard of justifiably.
Question: "Am I taking full account of thinking of others?"
Three types of Questions - - facts
- preference
- judgement
Standards of Reasoning - clarity
depth
accuracy
relevance
fairness
precision
breadth
significance
logic
Claire Drives her Acura Really Fast Partly Because She Loves it
Elements of Reasoning - Purpose
Information
Questions
Concepts
Assumptions
Inferences
Implications
Points of View
Pretentious Irishmen Quizzed Chubby Apprentices In Invisible Pajamas
Goals of critical thinking - - Learn to critique your own thinking
- Establish new habits of thought
- Develop confidence in reason
Strong-sense Critical Thinking - - Commitment to evaluating all beliefs, especially one's own
- Consistent pursuit of what is intellectually fair and just
Three Functions of the Mind - - Thinking
- Feeling
- Wanting
Questions of fact - - Evidence and reasoning within single system
- Serve as basis of knowledge
Questions of preference - - Subjective choice
- No judgment or assessment [Show Less]