Sillars' fourth edition of Argumentation and Critical Decision Making. The most current theories and research are combined with classic rhetoric to effectively explain the necessary functions of decision. This thesis is concerned with issues ansmg from group argumentation based decision making support.
Authors: Richard D. Rieke, Malcolm Osgood Sillars. This book examines the general principles of argument and then applies those principles to different spheres of life-politics, science, law, etc. A new chapter on evidence and argument in religion adds additional sphere to this edition and expands.
On the contrary it involves being an active contributor in debates and discussions and to defend your own arguments and claims. They act on the basis of self-interest, emotion, or personal relationships. The first problem with this objection is that it confuses rational thinking with talking about reasons. But we can still use critical thinking to think strategically about the best means to achieve our objectives. Consider for example love and friendship. They are certainly valuable, but critical thinking can help us cultivate them.
For example, thinking carefully about what is good or bad about a relationship can help us improve it and make it more fulfilling. Besides, it is not always wise to act solely on the basis of emotions. They can be biased by ego, fear, and greed. Thinking more about our decisions can counteract this problem. Thinking is a mental activity that the mind engages in with the help of the senses. Although the Rationalist proponents are in strong support of their theory of innatism which argues that man is born with innate ideas, the Empiricist school rejects this theory.
The leading proponent of the Empiricist school and distinguished British philosopher, John Locke argues that at birth, the human mind is like a tabula rasa a black sheet of paper. Hence whatever the mind acquires is from experience. Therefore, to him, knowledge comes from experience and not inborn because it is the sense that feed the mind with ideas to perform its functions. The word critical in Latin is criticus and in Greek is Kritokos, both meaning able to make judgment.
There are several definitions of critical thinking as this concept has been under research for several decades. Among the numerous definitions advanced by scholars in this discipline, that of Robert Ennis is one of the most explicit. He defines critical thinking as reasonable reflective thinking that is aimed at deciding what to belief or what to do David Hunter, There are some key elements of this definition worth revisiting.
It is reasonable because there is a method that needs to be applied in working out things. This refers to thinking that pushes us to question our thoughts and decisions and that of others as well. We are bound to question any information, action or object that do not appear intellectually satisfactory to us.
We have mentioned before that critical thinking leads us towards what to believe in the sense that it is a matter of what the facts or evidence are. For example, to say it is rainy outside is a fact. It also involves reasoning about what the facts are and this is known as theoretical reasoning To say critical thinking leads us towards what to do involve two key elements: what to value or what to strive for.
It has to do with your goal and the best means to attain that goal. It is all about focusing on the right idea and the right action to take.
For example, should I buy a new dress now or continue with the old ones? Decisions about what to value are among the most difficult and profound decisions we can make. But critical thinking can help us to make some of these decisions. Hence deciding what to do involves reasoning about what to do and how to do it. This is call practical reasoning.
To think critically on what to belief or what to do is reasonable because we have to have not just reasons but good ones for the decisions we make. Within the context of critical thinking, skepticism gives us the ability to apply doubts in certain situations. It does not mean we doubt everything we hear and see. It means being open and holding to the fact that there is a possibility that what you know at a given time may only be part of the picture.
Hence critical thinking gives us the tools to use skepticism and doubt constructively. It guides you on when to be trustful or skeptical. As humans, we are able to examine our lives objectively in order to improve it.
Below, are some of the skills that are indispensable to practice the art of critical thinking. This kind of a person uses good reasons to make decisions or to solve problems. You cannot separate logical reasoning from critical thinking given that the two go together.
You need to be able to evaluate your own beliefs and actions, as well as that of others whether they are right or wrong or have sufficient grounds to convince others.
You should have the ability to relate concepts to ideas and categories and to derive meaning from them. Irrespective of the form it takes, analysis always aims at giving a meaning to a set of statements or arguments. It also involves analyzing evidence and drawing conclusions from them. This can be applied in a variety of settings. You need to be able to isolate irrelevant from relevant information to be able to come out with the most relevant message from any written or oral discuss, argument or debate.
You need to develop your own ability towards using the right approach to problem solving by asking the right questions. As we can see from the list, critical thinking skills are essential for all sorts of careers in which we have to communicate ideas, make decisions, analyze, and solve problems. This is why critical thinking is called a domain-general thinking skill. But critical thinking is not just for the workplace. To live a meaningful life and plan for the future, we need to think about ourselves honestly and carefully.
Sign up Log in. Web icon An illustration of a computer application window Wayback Machine Texts icon An illustration of an open book. Books Video icon An illustration of two cells of a film strip. Video Audio icon An illustration of an audio speaker. Audio Software icon An illustration of a 3.
0コメント