LOGIC AND CRITICAL

THINKING
CHAPTER FOUR
CRITICAL THINKING
Chapter Objectives
• Comprehending the Meaning of Critical Thinking
• Identifying the Principles of Good Argument
• Exploring the Principles of Critical Thinking
• Identifying Character Traits of Critical and Uncritical Thinkers
• Analyze the Barriers to Critical Thinking
• Examining the Benefits of Critical Thinking
Session Objectives

• Comprehending the Meaning of Critical Thinking

• Identifying the Principles of Good Argument
• Exploring the Principles of Critical Thinking
1. What is critical thinking?

• Critical thinking is the disciplined process of actively and skillfully

conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information
gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning,
or communication, as a guide to belief and action.

• It involves questioning and challenging assumptions, including one's own, and

assessing the evidence and arguments presented in various situations to form a
reasoned judgment.
Standards of Critical Thinking
Clarity

Fairness Accuracy

Significance Precision

Logic Relevance

Breadth Depth
1. Clarity: Ensuring that the meaning of the argument or statement is
understandable and unambiguous.

2. Accuracy: Verifying that the information used or presented is true

and correct.

3. Precision: Providing enough detail to effectively convey the intended

message without oversimplification.
4. Relevance: Making sure that the information or argument is directly
related to the question or issue at hand.

5. Depth: Delving into the complexity of an issue and considering the

multiple layers involved in the argument or situation.

6. Breadth: Looking at the wider context and considering different

perspectives or alternative viewpoints.
7. Logic: Ensuring that reasoning is coherent and follows a consistent
and sound structure, without contradictions or fallacies.

8. Significance: Focusing on the important aspects of an issue and not

getting sidetracked by trivial details.

9. Fairness: Maintaining neutrality and an unbiased perspective, giving

equal consideration to all relevant viewpoints
Which of the following options correctly identifies a standard of critical thinking?

A) Confirmation bias - The tendency to seek out information that supports one's
existing beliefs and ignore or dismiss information that contradicts them.

B) Emotional reasoning - Making judgments and decisions based primarily on

personal emotions, rather than on objective evidence or logical reasoning.

C) Clarity - The ability to express ideas and arguments clearly and precisely, using
accurate and appropriate language.

D) Stereotyping - Making broad generalizations or assumptions about a group of

people based on limited or biased information.
Principles of Good Argument

Structural Relevance
Principle Principle

Acceptability Sufficiency
Principle Principle
Principles of Good Argument

Structural Principle

Relevance Principle

Acceptability Principle

Sufficiency Principle

Rebuttal Principle
1. Structural principle - refer to a guiding principle or rule that
pertains to the structure or organization of an argument.

• an argument should not employ reasons that are contradictory to one

another, contradict the ultimate conclusion.

• it should avoid making invalid deductive inferences.

2. Relevance principle - states that arguments and the information
presented within them should be relevant to the question or issue
under consideration.

3. Acceptability Principle – states that the premises must be acceptable

or credible to the intended audience.
4. Sufficiency Principle - states that an argument should provide
enough evidence or reasoning to establish the truth or plausibility of its
conclusion.

5. Rebuttal Principle - entails addressing and responding to

counterarguments or opposing viewpoints in order to strengthen one's
own argument.
Which of the following best represents a principle of a good argument in
critical thinking?

A) Using complex language to impress the audience

B) Introducing irrelevant facts to broaden the discussion

C) Assuming the conclusion within the premises to strengthen the argument

D) Anticipating and addressing counterarguments to support the main point

Answer: D
Summary

• Meaning of Critical thinking

Critic • Standards of Critical Thinking
al • Principles of Good Argument
Thin
king