Chapter 1 Review

What is critical thinking?

determine what information is or is not pertinent

distinguish between rational claims and emotional ones

separate fact from opinion

select the strongest set of supporting data

The basics: claims, arguments and issues

Claims: The
things we say, aloud or in writing, to convey information

to express our
opinions or beliefs

Claims , or statements are the
kinds of things that are true or false.

Issues: an issue is nothing more than a question

when we think critically about a claim, we call it into question and make it an issue.

Arguments: Once we identify an issue, the next task is to weigh the reasons for and against the claim and try to determine its truth or falsity

We produce an argument when we give
a reason for thinking that a claim is true.

Two kinds of good arguments:

Deductive arguments which means it isn’t possible for the premises to be true and the conclusion
false.

Inductive arguments assuming they are true, they raise the probability that the conclusion is true.

Recognizing arguments

The two parts of an arguments

The language of arguments

Thus, Hence, This follows that..

Other terms and concept

Value judgements

Knowledge

Truths

understand well enough what we mean when we say we know something

a term for a claim that
expresses an evaluation of something.

one that makes sense