Critical Thinking with reference to Critical Appraisal

Belinda NicolauAlissa Levine

Summer School 2010

Outline

Overview of critical thinking

First series of exercises

Second series of exercises

Fisher & Scriven: “skilled, active, interpretation and evaluation of observations, communications, information, and argumentation.”

Moore & Parker: “the careful, deliberate determination of whether one should accept, reject, or suspend judgment about a claim and the degree of confidence with which one accepts or rejects it.”

Critical Thinking: definition

Critical Thinking

Contribution to science

Construction of good arguments

Epistemic Responsibility

Get the facts straight

Be fair

Reflect on your beliefs

Be diplomatic

Critical Thinking: Formal Guidelines

Critical Thinking in 3 Steps

Step 1: Believe (the innovative component)› Suspend judgment› Search for the strengths of a perspective› Go so far as to “believe” that perspective

Step 2: Doubt (the intellectual norm)› Ask probing questions› Attack faulty logic/inadequate evidence› Use knowledge/information to rebut

Step 3: Integrate the first 2› Recognize and articulate complexity› Integrate insights gained to deepen understanding› Work towards informed judgment

Step 1: Believe

“Everyone agrees in theory that we can’t judge a new idea or point of view unless we enter into it and try it out, but the practice itself is rare” –Peter Elbow

The goal is to embrace all aspects of a perspective/argument, even those that you find ill-founded or offensive. This allows you to discover strengths in an argument that you might have overlooked

Step 2: Doubt

“Knowing and questioning, of course, require one another. We understand nothing except in so far as we understand the questions behind it” –I.A.Richards

The goal now is to question everything no matter how solid/reasonable it may seem› This may lead to unexpected insights and

questions, as well as a more profound furthering of knowledge

Step 3: Integrate

Having explored a perspective from within (believing) and from without (doubting), you should be better able to

› integrate all pertinent aspects

› identify similarities across perspectives

› modify your own way of thinking

The critical thinking notes on belief and doubt were gleaned from a website and book chapter:

www.teachablemoment.org/ideas/critical thin

king

Peter Elbow, “Methodological Doubting and Believing: Contraries in Inquiry,” in Embracing Contraries: Explorations in Learning and Teaching. N.Y: Oxford University Press, 1986.

Critical Thinking: Practical guidelines

Use simple terms

Avoid hidden argument components

Avoid vague/ambiguous expressions

Schematize your arguments

Watch for fallacies

Present a balanced case

Critical Thinking

A good argument

› The ideas are structured in a concise, coherent, and logical format

› The author(s)’ position is stated with confidence, conviction and persuasion

Critical Thinking

Developing a Position

• In most cases, your concern will be with a topic which not only interests you, but is also one which you already have some confidence discussing

Critical Thinking

Formulate some ideas

• Jot them down whenever they occur to you

• Don’t evaluate them until later

• Keep a notebook (or a napkin) handy or use a mini voice recorder

• Start early

Critical Thinking

Discuss your ideas with friends, roommates, family, pets …

Critical Thinking

Exercises