Critical Thinking

Question 1

Fundamentalism

Answer 1

Rigidity and inflexibility in one’s beliefs

Question 2

Why fundamentalists like critical thinking

Answer 2

It can be used to challenge facts e.g. from the Bible

Question 3

Critical thinking

Answer 3

Opposite of fundamentalism, how we think not what we think

Question 4

Logical thinking

Answer 4

Can’t be mapped onto real-life easily as it is abstract

Question 5

Scientific thinking

Answer 5

Can’t be mapped onto real-life easily as it lacks ecological validity

Question 6

What our thoughts about things are based on

Answer 6

What we notice and how we interpret it

Question 7

Example of what we notice

Answer 7

How magic works

Question 8

The effect of magic

Answer 8

What the audience sees

Question 9

The method of magic

Answer 9

What the audience misses

Question 10

Misdirection

Answer 10

Used to direct attention away from the method and towards the effect

Question 11

How to direct attention

Answer 11

Novelty, movement, eyes, voice, body language

Question 12

How to manage suspicion

Answer 12

Justifying method (waving a wand) and misrepresenting the effect (invisible ball)

Question 13

Criteria for a miracle

Answer 13

The event is impossible, and confirmed/seen by many

Question 14

Example of a magic miracle

Answer 14

The Indian Rope Trick

Question 15

What is a paradox?

Answer 15

A statement or claim with some kind of contradiction

Question 16

River of Heraclitus paradox

Answer 16

“You cannot step into the same river twice” - depends on meaning of river

Question 17

The ship of Theseus paradox

Answer 17

“If every part is replaced, is it still the same ship?” - depends on meaning of ship but also ambiguous boundary of new version vs. new thing

Question 18

The paradox of the heap

Answer 18

“If you remove grains one at a time, when is it no longer a heap?” - depends on ambiguous boundary

Question 19

Problem of paradoxes

Answer 19

Ambiguity of meaning

Question 20

Formal Logic

Answer 20

Form of reasoning, based on deduction, concerned with validity

Question 21

What is a syllogism?

Answer 21

Premise 1 (x) + Premise 2 (y) = Conclusion (z)

Question 22

Rule of a syllogism

Answer 22

If z must follow from x + y, then it is valid (based on form not content)

Question 23

Example of a valid syllogism

Answer 23

All men are mortal; Socrates is a man; Socrates is mortal

Question 24

Example of an invalid syllogism

Answer 24

Some Scots are Glaswegians; Some Glaswegians are funny; Some Scots are funny

Question 25

Example of explicit claim

Answer 25

"According to a recent poll..."

Question 26

Example of implicit claim

Answer 26

The meaning of terms

Question 27

Equivocation fallacy

Answer 27

Equates two different things e.g. a ham sandwich and eternal happiness

Question 28

Reification fallacy

Answer 28

Treats a concept as a real thing e.g. "Racism is hard-wired into the brain"

Question 29

What is a fallacy?

Answer 29

Mistaken belief (either ambiguous or irrelevant)

Question 30

Ad hominem fallacy

Answer 30

Attacks the person, not the claim e.g. anti-vaxxers

Question 31

Tu quoque or whataboutism fallacy

Answer 31

Responds to claim with counter-claim e.g. government actions

Question 32

Fallacious arguments

Answer 32

Not a logical response but have purpose, e.g. to undermine to deflect

Question 33

Example of a fallacious argument

Answer 33

"alternative facts" in Trump's White House

Question 34

What to question about a real-world claim?

Answer 34

Meaning, basis and purpose