Critical Thinking

At its essence, Critical Thinking (CT) is a recipe for making the best choices. The job of this BookCourse is to provide you with this recipe by equipping you with the following capabilities:

1. Create clear, well-supported arguments.
2. Analyze arguments and improve their quality.
3. Recognize common thinking errors and respond to them effectively.
4. Respond in the best ways to arguments made by others, especially when conversations are difficult.
5. Persuade ethically. Recognize and respond appropriately to attempts at unethical persuasion (manipulation).

Rewards of Critical Thinking

1. Avoid being fooled, misled, or manipulated.
2. Make the best decisions about relationships, health, work, money, and life choices.
3. Know what is most likely true, false, or uncertain.
4. Perform well when results matter, things are uncertain, and stakes are high.
5. Make defensible decisions under uncertainty and constraints.

Path to Success (Great Results)

1. Describe Thinking Using Causal Models

1. Critical Thinking: Critical Thinking is method that equips actors (people and groups) to reliably make the best choices.
2. Critical Thinking (Causal Models): Causal models of CT explain how to succeed (get great results) with the four main job of thinking.

2. Make the Best Claims (Beginner Level)

1. Claims: A claim is an actor’s (person or groups) assertion of what they believe.
2. Two Types of Claims It is worthwhile to classify claims as (a) claims that describe reality and (b) claims that depend on standards.
3. Making the Best Claim (How To)

3. Analyze Arguments for Quality and Improve Them (Intermediate)

4. Apply Systematic Logic to Arguments (Advanced)

5. Recognize and Counter Common Thinking Errors

6. Respond Skillfully to the Arguments of Others

7. Persuade Ethically and Counter Unethical Persuasion