Critical thinking

An introduction

BA (Hons) Music & Creative Music Technology

Learning objectives

We will be exploring the concept and practice of critical thinking

or as I call is

Untethered thought

The wasp in the bottleLeave an angry wasp trapped inside a lemonade bottle and it may drown; release it

and you are faced with the possibility that it may sting you. This is an unlikely scenario

to consider is you are on the verge of undertaking a programme of academic writing

but one which you would do best to consider. Leave the wasp in a bottle even left with

a small trace of lemonade and it will more than likely drown; a futile and pointless

death. There are those who hold to the popular assumption that wasps have no

function beyond simply being irritating. Of course this is not true as they predate

insects that many would consider to be pests. If you fear being stung on releasing the

wasp then the fear is simply just that and not an opinion based on evidence or

experience but one based on fear which is founded on presumption. If you fear being

stung then the wasp will die. If you analyse the situation objectively then you would

release the wasp and come to no harm.

How do we begin to think in a critical manner?

Untethered thought

Every thought it tethered to a concept!

Untethering thought

Every though is tethered to a concept which is

unavoidable as this is an inherent trait and

without this it would be not be possible to

gain understanding. However, some tethered

thoughts are unhelpful.

Joe & football

Joe does not enjoy watching football

At school he avoided playing football as he was unable to kick a ball accurately

Discuss

Mundane proposition

What does this entail?

Start with a clean slate

Abandon barriers to thinking

Anything is possible

See the world through uncluttered

eyes

There are no definitive answers

How realisti

c is this?

Get into groups

You have 10 minutes to analyse the object

List its defining features

Ask some very basic what, why and how

questions

At this point it is important to avoid reaching a

definitive conclusions

Familiar objects

Sharing conclusions

Why is critical thought important?

Your view of the world

What defines you?

Write a brief outline of your core beliefs

and values

How does the mirror work?

What did you think to the process?

Is the exercise valid?

Un Chien Andalou

Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí

There are some violent, disturbing and sexual images

Un Chien Andalou

Un Chien Andalou

mp4

Reflection on image, meaning & narrative

End