Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking Pamela S. Evers, Attorney at Law

Thinking Critically • Effective & ethical decision making requires critical thinking, or the ability to evaluate arguments logically, honestly, and objectively Pamela S. Evers, Attorney at Law

Critical Thinking Model 1. What are the facts? 2. What is the real issue? 3. What are the reasons for the conclusion? 4. What are the relevant rules? 5. Does the argument contain significant ambiguity? 6. What ethical norms are fundamental to the reasoning? 7. How appropriate are the analogies? 8. Is there relevant missing information? Pamela S. Evers, Attorney at Law

Non Sequitur • A non sequitur is a conclusion that does not follow from the facts • In other words, they miss the point Pamela S. Evers, Attorney at Law

Appeal to Pity • An appeal to pity obtains support for an argument by focusing on victim’s predicament (often a non sequitur!) Pamela S. Evers, Attorney at Law

False Analogies • A false analogy is arguing that since a set of facts are similar to another set of facts, the two are alike in other ways Pamela S. Evers, Attorney at Law

Circular Reasoning • If person assumes the thing the person is trying to prove, it’s circular reasoning Pamela S. Evers, Attorney at Law

Argumentum ad Populum • Emotional appeal to popular beliefs or based on what others are doing • Bandwagon argument Pamela S. Evers, Attorney at Law

Argumentum ad Baculum • Using threats or fear to support position • Common in unequal bargaining situations Pamela S. Evers, Attorney at Law

Argumentum ad Hominem • Means “argument against the man” and attacks the person, not his or her reasoning Pamela S. Evers, Attorney at Law

Argument from Authority • Relies on an opinion because of speaker’s status as expert or authority rather than quality or logic of the speaker’s argument Pamela S. Evers, Attorney at Law

False Cause Argument • If speaker observes two events and concludes there is a causal link between them when there is no such link, a false cause fallacy has occurred Pamela S. Evers, Attorney at Law

The Gambler’s Fallacy • Results from mistaken belief that independent prior outcomes affect future outcomes Pamela S. Evers, Attorney at Law

Appeal to Tradition • If a speaker declares something should be done a certain way because that is the way it has been done in the past, the speaker has made an appeal to tradition Pamela S. Evers, Attorney at Law

Reductio ad Absurdum • Flaw in critical thinking that carries an argument to a logical end (slippery slope), but does not consider whether it is inevitable or probable result • Example: “Eating fast food causes weight gain. If you are overweight you will die of a heart attack. Fast food leads to heart attacks.” Pamela S. Evers, Attorney at Law

Lure of the New • Opposite of appeal to tradition because argument claims that since something is new it must be better Pamela S. Evers, Attorney at Law

Sunk Cost Fallacy • Attempt to justify or recover investments in time or money by spending more • “Throwing good money after bad” Pamela S. Evers, Attorney at Law

Critique These Arguments… • Your invention is a bad idea because it has no historical precedent. • The company will become more profitable because it has been reorganized. • You claim that this man is innocent, but you cannot be trusted since you are a criminal as well. • The consultant recommended that we sell the X division, therefore we will do so. • Brand X car is the leading brand in America, so you should buy Brand X car. • If you award this plaintiff money for his injuries, insurance rates will skyrocket out of control. Pamela S. Evers, Attorney at Law

Evaluate Situations • You often face situations in which a potential dispute may arise. In the following photos, identify: • what might have happened and how the incident might have been prevented, and • what dispute might arise and how to resolve them. Pamela S. Evers, Attorney at Law

Evaluate Situations Pamela S. Evers, Attorney at Law

Evaluate Situations Dispute with Home Owner’s Assoc. Pamela S. Evers, Attorney at Law

Evaluate Situations Pamela S. Evers, Attorney at Law

Thank you! Pamela S. Evers, Attorney at Law

Critical Thinking