CHAPTER 2Beyond Feelings
What Is Critical Thinking?
AppreciateBelieveCerebrateCogitateConceiveConsider
What is Critical Thinking?
ConsultFancyImagineMeditateReasonReflect
RealizePonderSupposeWeighMuseDream
“corPLUS calloSUM”
Mind, Brain or Both?
G.W. Leibnitz
John Locke
If you see the lady turning clockwise you are using your right brain. If you see it the other way, you are using left brain.
Very few people can see it both ways. See if you can make her go one way and then the other by shifting the brain’s current. BOTH DIRECTIONS CAN BE SEEN.
Critical Thinking Defined
• Thinking is not feeling• Thinking is a conscious mental process• Critical thinking is evaluation (questioning & analyzing)
Characteristics of Critical Thinkers
• Control of one’s mental activities• Honest with themselves• Embrace challenges• Base judgments on evidence• Interested in other people’s ideas• Don’t operate in absolutes• Practice Restraint
The Role of Intuition
Activities in Critical Thinking
1. Investigation2. Interpretation3. Judgment
Critical Thinking & Discussion
• Prepare in advance• Set reasonable expectations• Leave ego/personal agenda at the door• Contribute but don’t dominate• Avoid distracting speech mannerisms• Listen actively• Judge ideas responsibly• Resist the urge to shout/interrupt
CHAPTER 3Beyond Feelings
What Is Truth?
What Is Truth?Does one Truth exist? Is there an absolute answer to
everything?
Truth is what stands the test of experience. -Albert Einstein
What’s wrong with this statement?
IMPLICATIONS:
•everyone is right, no one is wrong
•whatever someone thinks shouldn’t be questioned
•our perceptions and memories are always perfect
•we never adopt anyone else’s truth…each perspective is uniquely ours, not shared or influenced by others
Where Does It All Begin?
IMPLICATION: we never adopt anyone else’s truth…each perspective is uniquely ours, not shared or influenced by others
Imitation
How good are your observational
skills?
Imperfect Perception
Allport & Postman (1958): Subway Car Picture
IMPLICATION: Our perceptions and memories are always perfect
Imperfect Memory
Elizabeth Loftus
Calvin Willis being Released from Prison
How good is your memory of 9/11?
IMPLICATION: Our perceptions and memories are always perfect
Deficient InformationIMPLICATION: Everyone is right, no one can be wrong & whatever
some one thinks shouldn’t be questioned
Truth is Discovered, Not Created
1. Our beliefs are influenced by others2. Perception and memory are imperfect3. Our information can be incorrect
Bottom Line: We do not create our own truth, we create our own beliefs
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