Thinking Critically
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Unit 1E
Critical Thinking in
Everyday Life
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 1-3
1-E
Critical Thinking In Everyday Life
Hints
1. Read (or listen) carefully.
2. Look for hidden assumptions.
3. Identify the real issue.
4. Understand all the options.
5. Watch for fine print and missing information.
6. Are other conclusions possible?
7. Don’t miss the big picture.
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1-E
Hint #1 Read/Listen Carefully
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Jose had six bagels and ate all but four of them.
How many bagels were left?
Is it possible for a man to marry his widow’s
sister?
Paris Hilton’s rooster laid an egg in Brittany
Spears’ yard. Who owns the egg?
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1-E
#1 (con’t)
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Three kinds of apples are all mixed up in a
basket. How many apples must you draw(without
looking) from the basket to be sure of getting at
least two of a kind?
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Suppose you go to a party with four Americans
and four Canadians, none of whom you have met.
How many people must you meet to be sure of
meeting two people of the same nationality?
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1-E
Hint #2 Hidden Assumptions
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The bank teller made a calculation and told me
that if I deposit $500 today in a savings plan at a
2.3% interest rate, I will have about $703 in 15
years.
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I recommend giving to the United Way because it
supports so many worthwhile causes.
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I support increased military spending because we
need a strong America
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1-E
Hidden Assumptions
Analyze the following argument:
We should increase taxes because increased
money for welfare will reduce poverty.
Write the argument as a conditional statement.
If we increase money for welfare,
then poverty will be reduced.
Conclusion: We should increase taxes.
Premise:
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Slide 1-8
1-E
Hidden Assumptions
Write the argument including hidden assumptions.
We should increase taxes because increased money for
welfare will reduce poverty.
Hidden Assumption: If we increase taxes, then there will be
more money for welfare.
Stated Premise:
If we increase money for welfare, then
poverty will be reduced.
Hidden Assumption: If poverty is reduced, then we will have a
more desirable society.
Hidden Assumption: If a policy will lead to a more desirable
society, then it should be enacted.
Conclusion:
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We should increase taxes.
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1-E
Hint #3 Identify the Real Issue
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Banning concerts (p.67)
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People who eliminate meat from their diet risk
severe nutritional deficiencies. Eating meat is by
far the easiest way to consume complete protein
plus many other essential nutrients all in one food
source. It makes sense: our ancestors have
been meat-eaters for thousands of years.
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
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1-E
Hint # 4 Understand all the options
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Which airline ticket to buy? (p.68)
Think – Consider the two ticket options from the
point of view of the airline.
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1-E
Hint #5 Fine Print and Missing Info
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You Won! You receive the following email
notification:
“Through random selection from more than 20
million email addresses, you have been selected
as the winner of our grand prize- a two week
vacation in the Bahamas. To claim your prize,
please call our toll free number. Have yourcredit
card ready for identification and a small
processing fee.”
Does this sound like a deal worth taking?
Explain
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1-E
Hint # 6 Other Conclusions?
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You should never accept the first argument or
choice you hear.
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Nuclear Deterrence (p.69)
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Can you thing of any facts that would tend to
undercut the argument that nuclear deterrence
prevented war between the US and Soviet Union.
Is the argument presented convincing?
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1-E
Hint #7 Don’t miss the big picture
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“Not seeing the forest because of the trees”
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Housing bubble
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1-E
Put it all together
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We live in a complex world, and unless you are
careful in all your thinking and decision making,
you are liable to be led astray.
Learn to pick apart every argument or choice you
are given. With time, you will gain the experience
needed to make wise decisions in school, in your
career and in your life.
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1-E
Beware!
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Beware of the “Up To” deals.
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