PHIL& 115 - Critical Thinking

5 Credits

Learn to analyze arguments in a variety of media with the goal of determining what to believe. Develop the skills of critical reading and listening, and writing with precision and clarity.

Fees

Quarters Typically Offered
Fall Day
Winter Day
Designed to Serve Students seeking to improve critical thinking skills. Students seeking Humanities Distribution credit, Philosophy majors.
Active Date 20210403T10:09:41

Grading Basis Decimal Grade
Class Limit 28
Contact Hours: Lecture 55
Total Contact Hours 55
Degree Distributions:
AA

Humanities Area I

Course Outline
1. Introduction to thinking, reasoning, and decision-making processes.

2. Problem Analysis and Evaluation Skills: a. Breaking down and prioritizing critical issues (problem finding) b. Maximizing options and solutions c. Clarifying goals and values d. Defining underlying assumptions and basic concepts

3. Arguments Analysis, Evaluation and Construction Skills: a. Identifying reasons, conclusions and patterns in single and multiple level arguments b. Evaluating arguments for logic (validity) c. Identifying common fallacies of reasoning d. Identifying different uses of language in argumentation e. Constructing sound and logical arguments on both sides of an issue (dialogical thinking) from many different perspectives (multi-logical thinking)

4. Other topics often covered: authority and expertise, dealing with feelings and emotions, creativity and imagination, persuasion and negotiation, dialectical and dialogical thinking, openness and fair-mindedness, obstacles to clear thinking, strategies for developing thinking skills.

Student Learning Outcomes
Identify inductive and deductive arguments.

Evaluate inductive and deductive arguments.

Identify informal fallacies.

Construct sound deductive and strong inductive arguments in writing.