The Critical Thinking BookCourse

Introduction

Skill with CT (Critical Thinking) equips actors (people and groups) with three intertwined abilities.

  1. Figure out what is most likely true and justify this.
  2. Determine what is most worthwhile or best and justify this.
  3. Figure out the best actions to take and justify this.

If you’d like these abilities, consider learning CT.

This BookCourse provides a step-by-step path so that anyone can excel at CT and justifiably say “I got this, it is simple, it works, and I love it.”

The Path

Describe CT

  1. Critical Thinking: Critical Thinking (CT) is a systematic way of making judgments about reality: Truth, Value, and Action = TVA
  2. Judgments: A judgment is an actor’s stance on reality: what is true, what is worthwhile or best, or what actions should be taken.
  3. Claims: A claim is a statement that expresses a judgment about reality regarding truth, value, or action (TVA).
  4. Objective Claims: An objective claim is true (or false) for everyone because it depends on facts and evidence.
  5. Subjective Claims: A subjective claim is true (or false) for some people but not for all because it depends on values (such as morals, preferences, or professional ethics).
  6. Arguments: An argument is a conclusion plus statements (premises) that justify why the conclusion should be accepted.

Make an Advocacy Argument

  1. Advocacy Argument: An advocacy argument is one in which the arguer is convinced of a conclusion and works to justify it with supporting premises. The goal is persuasion—convincing others to accept the conclusion.
  2. Propositions: A proposition is the meaning of a claim, independent of its specific wording or language.
  3. TVA Logic.
  4. Logic Patterns
  5. Diamond Logic
  6. Noise Reduction: Make every claim in your argument state or support your conclusion.

Make a Discovery Argument

  1. Inquiry Arguments: An discovery argument is one in which the arguer does not fully know the conclusion at the outset. Instead, they assemble premises, weigh evidence, and reason toward the best conclusion. The goal is discovery—finding out what to believe, value, or do.

TextBook Logic

Recognize Errors

Analyze and Improve Arguments

  1. Quality in an Argument
  2. Analyzing an Argument

Respond to Arguments

  1. Best Response to an Argument or Claim. When you respond, set your goals, choose your methods, apply your methods, and reflect.

Persuade Ethically & Resist Manipulation

  1. Persuasion. Persuasion is influencing a target to believe, value, or act (TVA)