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Critical Thinking :
rd
3 Mental Act
(Reasoning)
MEANING
"Critical" as used in the expression "critical thinking" connotes the
importance or centrality of the thinking to an issue, question or
problem of concern. "Critical" in this context does not mean
"disapproval" or "negative." There are many positive and useful uses of
critical thinking, for example formulating a workable solution to a
complex personal problem.
DEFINITION
Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and
skillfully
conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating
information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience,
reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and
action.
Methods of Inference
1.
Deduction the term deduction is deduced from deduco
meaning I lead down. Deduction is an inferential process wherein the
mind conclude with certainty from a universal / general principle /
knowledge / judgment, to the particular. The premises contain
conclusive evidence for the truth of the conclusion.
Example:
2.
Induction The term induction is deduced from induco meaning
I lead into. Induction is an inferential thinking that concludes from
individual, or particular to the universal. It claims that its premises
furnish only some amount of probability, but not certainty to its
conclusion.
Example:
Theoretical Framework
2
Kinds of Inference
1.
Immediate Inference springs directly from a single premise to a
conclusion without the mediation of any other premise. A conclusion is
drawn from a single premise. The given proposition is called the
premise and the proposition deduced or inferred from it is called the
conclusion.
2.
Mediate Inference the inferential thinking process passes from
one proposition to another through a medium. It is called the middle
term or another proposition. There is not only a new proposition, but
also a new truth, which is drawn by the mind from the first proposition
through a medium.
Mediate inference is a mental process. Thus, it exist only in the mind.
To represent the argument existing in the mind, it must be expressed
by a syllogism.
Syllogism is an external representation of an argument.
Etymologically, it is deduced from Greek syn-legein or syn-logos,
which, means, to think in a connected manner. It is a series od
propositions, viz., first, Major Premise; third, the Conclusion. The
conclusion is necessarily derived from the two given premises.
Syllogism - is a kind of logical argument that applies deductive
reasoning to arrive at a conclusion based on two or more propositions
that are asserted or assumed to be true.
Kinds of Syllogism
1.
Categorical Syllogism a deductive argument consisting of three
categorical propositions that contain exactly three terms, each of
which occurs in exactly two of the propositions. This process of
reasoning is grounded on self-evident logical axioms, deduced from the
metaphysical principles of identity and contradiction.
2.
Hypothetical Syllogism it is a kind wherein at least one
proposition is a hypothetical proposition. It does not involve a direct
assertion of agreement or disagreement between the subject and the
predicate. They express the dependence of the truth or falsity of one
statement upon the truth or falsity of another statement.
Bibliography
5
Nabor-Nery, Maria Imelda, Fundamentals of Logic, Metro Manila, 2007.
http://www.wikipedia.com/
Ellen Block, (September 15, 2013). How to deal with Logic. Teen
Booklist (Online). HelenSmith@wellington.com
Stevenson, Rhoda , (January 28, 2014). Humor and immorality. Mind
Over Matter (Online). Stevesononline@rehpublishing.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Introduction
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1
Meaning
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1
Definition
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1
Inference.
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2
Methods of
Inference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2
Theoretical Framework . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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3
Kinds of Inference
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4
Kinds of
Syllogism
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.
4
Varieties of Categorical Syllogism
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5
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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6