Critical thinking
This topic shows you how to think critically, find hidden contexts and read between the lines
Closing questions
Which of the sentences describes ‘Critical thinking’ in the most appropriate way?
Correct answer: Critical thinking is the ability to find counter-arguments against someone else’s arguments.
Critical analysis of information involves?
Correct answer: assessing credible, relevant evidence.
Which of the following sentences is an opinion?
Correct answer: Women should not hide their heads with any kind of veil
Premise is:
Correct answer: Statement, which aim is to give reason for conclusion
Which of the following sentences is an assumption?
Correct answer: Climate change could cause extreme weather conditions
An argument is?
Correct answer: Series of sentences, statements and assumptions, which aim is to explain, persuade, reason.
Which of the following sentences is NOT a fact?
Correct answer: Africans live in clay huts
This sentence is not a fact, it is assumption, incorrect assumption based on stereotype and prejudice
Which of the following sentences is the conclusion of an argument?
Correct answer: Mankind influence the temperature of our planet
This sentence is the conclusion of the argument which can be derived out of two premises represented by answers A and B
Which of the following options is a strong argument?
Correct answer: (1) Andrej is only 30 years old and he is very obese
(2) According to the Slovak Obesitology Society the extreme obesity in age of 25 to 35 10folds the risk of death in comparison with the same age of non-obese persons.
(3) It is possible that Andrej will die earlier than non-obese young people.
(2) According to the Slovak Obesitology Society the extreme obesity in age of 25 to 35 10folds the risk of death in comparison with the same age of non-obese persons.
(3) It is possible that Andrej will die earlier than non-obese young people.
This argument is founded by statistics collected by Slovak doctors associated in Slovak Obesitology Society
Which manipulative techniques are used in these sentences?
Read these sentences carefully and try to identify which manipulative techniques they use.
“I also know decent Romas.”
Correct answer: prejudicial language
Phrase “I also know decent Romas” contains prejudice. It says between the lines that in general, Romas are not decent, what is generalisation not based on reality. It is always about individuals, decent or not.
“I definitely won't vote for Christian, is spite of the fact his suggestions seem rational. Cannot you remember him at the last Christmas party?”
Correct answer: argumentum ad hominem
This argument attacks person and not the core of the idea. What Christian did at the Christmas party has nothing to do with quality or innequality of his suggestions.
Person A: “We should change our attitude to the physical education.”
Person B: “Are you crazy? If children would stop moving, there won't be anything else left for them except video games and hamburgers.”
Person B: “Are you crazy? If children would stop moving, there won't be anything else left for them except video games and hamburgers.”
Correct answer: straw-man fallacy
Person A did not say anything about stopping children from moving, only that they should change the attitude towards physical education. It could include anything, from higher load at children, through more active trips to the nature or including pilates into the curriculum, to using of modern music during exercising.
Lipton tea is the best, because the most people drink it.”
Correct answer: argument ad populum
This statement is based on belief that the majority should be right. However, the fact that the most people drink this brand of tea does not mean it is the best. Maybe it is the cheapest option, maybe it is the most available or the best known brand.