Critical Thinking An education’s central mission

The Big Question Everywhere we look, someone is making some claim or other about our behavior and experience, trying to make money and influence us. Everywhere we look, someone is making some claim or other about our behavior and experience, trying to make money and influence us. How can we tell the difference between what is legitimate and beneficial and what is merely puffed-up advertising or just plain wrong? How can we tell the difference between what is legitimate and beneficial and what is merely puffed-up advertising or just plain wrong?

Critical Thinking Making crucial decisions on carefully accumulated evidence and well supported reasons Making crucial decisions on carefully accumulated evidence and well supported reasons Not because of emotion or misplaced belief on isolated occurrences Not because of emotion or misplaced belief on isolated occurrences

Hallmarks of Critical Thinking Ask questions – even about things others take for granted. Ask questions – even about things others take for granted. Much is undiscovered, uncertain, unsolved Much is undiscovered, uncertain, unsolved We must first ask the questions before we can find the answers We must first ask the questions before we can find the answers We must use empirical means.

Examine evidence Look carefully to assess a claim’s foundation Look carefully to assess a claim’s foundation Based upon mere opinion? Based upon mere opinion? A few intriguing but isolated occurrences or anecdotes? A few intriguing but isolated occurrences or anecdotes? Careful observation? Careful observation? Sweeping analyses of relationships? Sweeping analyses of relationships? Experimentation subjected to peer review? Experimentation subjected to peer review?

Look behind assumptions Do we start our inquiry already leaning to a particular outcome? Do we start our inquiry already leaning to a particular outcome? Bias – an assumption or belief that unfairly influences our appraisal of the evidence Bias – an assumption or belief that unfairly influences our appraisal of the evidence We attack a position before considering it objectively because we just know that it is wrong We attack a position before considering it objectively because we just know that it is wrong Many biases are hidden or subtle. Many biases are hidden or subtle.

Tolerating uncertainty We want clear, definite answers. We want clear, definite answers. We rarely get them. We rarely get them. Sometimes we lack enough evidence, sometimes what we have is confusing or frustratingly complex Sometimes we lack enough evidence, sometimes what we have is confusing or frustratingly complex Human behavior is complicated and influenced by dozens of factors. Human behavior is complicated and influenced by dozens of factors.

It’s not easy Even the smartest make mistakes. Even the smartest make mistakes. We must avoid confirmation bias. We must avoid confirmation bias. Keep an open mind. Keep an open mind.

esp Acquiring information without the use of sense organs and without receiving any form of physical energy Acquiring information without the use of sense organs and without receiving any form of physical energy Widely accepted, but valid? Widely accepted, but valid? Throw away physics?!? Throw away physics?!? Suspicious “proof” Suspicious “proof” No one has met Randi’s No one has met Randi’schallenge