Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Critical Thinking Unit 1- Language of Reasoning
- INTRODUCTION TO CRITICAL THINKING
- AN ARGUMENT
- An argument is an attempt to persuade an
individual to accept a conculsion
- The most basic argument will feature a
conclusion and a reason to support the
concultion
- EXAMPLE: "Travelling by train is very
expensive (reason). You should get the bus
(conclusion).
- IDENTIFYING REASONS AND CONCLUSIONS
- Reasons
- because...
- such as...
- due to...
- since...
- Conclusions
- therefore...
- so...
- consequently...
- thus...
- it follows that...
- NOTE: Not all elements include
with these indicators.
- COUNTER ARGUMENTS AND COUNTER-ASSERTIONS
- Counter Aurguments
- An argument which goes against the conclusion of the main argument
- Usually used to dismiss the counter argument
and further support their own argument
- EXAMPLE: If a main conclusion is "Money should be invested in
protecting pandas." A counter argument could be "...Money should
not be spent protecting pandas (counter conclusion) as they are a
lost cause and will inevitably become extinct (counter reason).
- Counter Assertions
- A reason which would support a conclusion that is
opposed to the writers own main conclusion
- Won't include a counter conclusion like
a counter argument
- EXAMPLE: "It is commonly thought that..." then provide
a reason against this counter-assertion
- HYPOTHETICAL REASONING
- A predictive element to support a conclusion
- Known as "hypothetical claims"
- EXAMPLE: "If it rains today, we will get wet (hypothetical
reason). The children hate getting wet (Reason), so we
should stay at home (conclusion).
- ASSUMPTIONS
- An unstated reason which would
need to be accepted to accept the
conclusion
- EXAMPLE: "The office has been forced open
(reason 1). Ethan has not turned up this
morning (reason 2). *THERE WAS MONEY IN
THE SAFE (ASSUMPTION)* Ethan stole the
money (conclusion).
- ASSESSING THE LINK BETWEEN REASONS AND CONCLUSIONS
- Is the reason relevant the conclusion?
- Does the reason make a difference to the conclusion?
- Would other evidence (not in the
argument) make a difference to the
conclusion?
- EVIDENCE AND EXAMPLES
- Evidence is information used to support a
reason which then supports a conclusion
- Statistics
- Factual claims
- Images
- Personal observations
- Statements from sources
- Examples are specific forms of evidence that can
develop a reason and support a conclusion
- "Such as..."
- Evaluating evidence
- Is the evidence representative?
- Is the evidence directly relevant?
- Is the evidence ambiguous?