Critical thinking

How to find out that our arguments are well founded?

Following questions could help us as hints:

• Are not the reasons we use for our conclusions inappropriately chosen?
• Are there any hidden assumptions in the argument?
• Is one of the main words in our argument vague, ambiguous, inclining to prejudice?
• Are there any manipulations or fallacies in our argument?
• Is there any information skipped or concealed?
• Is any of information not true, not right or inconsistent/self-repugnant?

If you answer yes to any of the questions, try to think about your argument again.

Many bad arguments form various kinds of manipulations, for example:

• manipulations by language (using vague words or euphemisms)
• manipulations by appealing to emotions (scare, fear, sorrow or prejudice)
• manipulations by distracting of attention (repeating the same conclusion by other words and so on).