Philosophy 4: Critical Thinking

Return to Home Page

NOTICE:

Adminstrative:

• Critical Thinking Section 6 Syllabus
• Critical Thinking Section 12 Syllabus
• Convert Grade to Percentage

Final Exam Schedule:

• Section 6 : Monday, Dec 15th, 12:45-2:45
• Section 12: Thursday, Dec 18th, 12:45-2:45

Midterm Review:

• List of Topics and Concepts
• Practice 6.4 #1, 3-5, 7-16
• Review Exercises, Chapters 1-6

Homework Assignments:

Section 6

• Homework #1, Chapter 1, Due: September 10th, 2008
• Homework #2, Chapter 2, Due: September 15th, 2008
• Homework #3, Chapter 4, Due: September 22nd, 2008
• Homework #4, Chapter 5, Due: October 6th, 2008
• Homework #5, Chapter 7, Due: October 13th, 2008
• Homework #6, Chapter 9, Due: November 17th, 2008
• Homework #7, Chapters 10 & 11, Due: December 1st, 2008

Section 12

• Homework #1, Chapter 1, Due: September 9th, 2008
• Homework #2, Chapter 2, Due: September 16th, 2008
• Homework #3, Chapter 4, Due:September 23rd, 2008
• Homework #4, Chapter 5, Due: October 7th, 2008
• Homework #5, Chapter 7, Due: October 14th, 2008
• Homework #6, Chapter 9, Due: November 18th, 2008
• Homework #7, Chapters 10 & 11, Due: December 2nd, 2008

OVERHEADS:

Week 1: Chapter 1: Introduction to Critical Thinking

• Identifying Claims
• Issues, Multiple Issues and Main Issue
• Recognizing a Change in Issue
• Arguments: Components
• Premises and Conclusions
• Introduction to Factual/Nonfactual
• Facts, Factual Matters, and Nonfactual Matters: Examples

Week 2: Chapter 2: Clarity in Writing

• Steps in Writing
• Exercise: Writing for an Audience/Purpose
• Types of Definitions
• Definitions: Practice
• Ambiguity: Outline of Types
• Ambiguity: Types and Examples
• Ambiguity and Vagueness: Practice

Week 3: Chapter 3: Credibility

• Changing a Belief: Individual
• Changing a Belief: Society
• Credibility Examples

Week 4: Chapter 4: Rhetoric

• Rhetoric Vs. Critical Thinking
• Rhetorical Devices Definitions

Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Introduction to Fallacies

• Logic vs. Pseudoreasoning: Chart
• Features of Pseudoreasoning
• Ch 5 Pseudreasoning: Definitions

Chapter 6: More Fallacies

• More Fallacies (Chapter 6)
• Answers to Textbook Practice Problems

Chapter 7: Anatomy and Types of Arguments

• Arguments Vs. Explanations
• Features of Arguments
• Diagramming Arguments
• Chart: Analyzing Passages
• Deductive Vs. Inductive Arguments
• Exercise 1: Premise/Conclusion, Type of Argument
• Argument Examples
• Evaluating Deductive Arguments
• Exercise 1: Detect Validity
• Finding a Missing Premise: Introduction
• Exercise: Find Missing Premise(s)
• Finding the Missing Premise: Practice 2

Chapter 8: Deductive Arguments: Categorical Logic

• Categorical Claims in Standard Form
• Putting Claims In Standard Form: Guidelines
• Derive Corresponding Claims & Assess Truth: Practice
• Areas in a Venn Diagram
• Representing Categorical Claims: Venn Diagrams
• Reading Venn Diagram for Validity
• Evaluating Arguments Using Venn: Long Version
• Evaluating Arguments: Practice
• Categorical Logic: Problem Set 1
• Categorical Logic: Problem Set 1 Answers

Chapter 9: Deductive Arguments: Sentential Logic

• Why Sentential Logic is Needed
• Topics In Sentential Logic
• Steps to Translating Into Sentential Logic
• Symbolizing Claims: Practice 1
• Symbolizing Claims: Practice 2
• Sentence Connectives Chart
• Truth Functionality of Sentence Connectives
• Characteristics of a Truth Table
• Truth Tables of Sentence Connectives
• Truth Tables of Connectives in Basic Sentences
• Using Truth Tables to Represent Easier Sentences
• Using Truth Tables to Represent Harder Sentences
• Symbolizing Arguments in Truth Functional Format
• Using Truth Tables: Summary of Uses
• Showing Implication or Equivalence
• Using Truth Tables To Show Arguments Valid: Examples
• Validity: Truth Forcing Truth
• Using TT to Show Validity: English Examples
• Sentential Logic: Problem Set 1: Sentences, Truth Tables, Validity
• Sentential Logic: Problem Set 1 Answers
• The Short Truth Table Method
• Rules of Deduction
• Constructing a Deduction Backwards: Practice

Chapter 10: Inductive Arguments

• Chart: Types of Arguments
• Deductive Vs. Inductive Inferences
• Inductive Generalizations Vs. Analogical Arguments
• Parts of Inductive Arguments
• Creating a Representative Sample
• Representativeness Of a Sample Class: Example
• Evaluating Inductive Arguments: 3 Questions
• Evaluating Formal Inductive Generalizations

Chapter 11: Causal Reasoning

• Causal Reasoning Components
• Examples of Causal Hypotheses
• Only Relevant Difference Vs. Common Thread
• Sources of Error in Causal Hypotheses
• Vagueness in Causal Hypotheses Examples
• Mistakes in Causal Reasoning
• Chart: Types of Causal Studies
• Components of Causal Studies
• Controlled Cause-to-Effect
• Non-Experimental Cause-to-Effect
• Non-Experimental Effect-to-Cause
• Placebo Effect & Double-Blind Studies

Week 14: Chapter 12: Introduction to Ethics

• Chart: Factual, Evaluative, Moral Vs. Nonmoral
• Introduction to Moral/Nonmoral
• Introduction to Moral Philosophy
• Emotivism
• Is to Ought Reasoning
• Factors in Moral Issues
• Relativism vs. Universalism
• Types of Ethical Theories
• Divine Command
• Utilitarianism
• Kantian Ethics
• Virtue Ethics

Week 15: Review For Final Exam:

• List of Topics, Chapters 7-12
• Practice Sentence Implication
• Find Missing Premise
• Exercises, Chapters 7-12