PHIL102: Critical Thinking | Saylor Academy

Watch this video for a basic sense of what critical thinking is and why it is important.

Source: Chapman Learning Commons, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU_9xFSG82U
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Last modified: Wednesday, 8 May 2024, 11:03 AM

COURSE INTRODUCTION

Course Syllabus

Unit 1: Introduction and Meaning Analysis

1.1: Introduction to Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking Skills

Discussion: The Importance of Critical Thinking

1.2.1: The Elements of Meaning

Meaning Analysis

Discussion: Definitions

1.2.2: Necessary and Sufficient Conditions

Necessity and Sufficiency

1.2.3: Thinking Critically about Ordinary Language

Meaning Analysis Continued

1.3: Assessing Sources

Research Skills Tutorial

Evaluating Sources and Peer Review

Evaluating Internet Material

Discussion: Finding and Assessing Sources

Unit 2: Argument Analysis

2.1.1: What Are Arguments?

What is an Argument?

More on Arguments

2.1.2: How to Tell an Argument from a Non-Argument

Identifying Arguments

The Standard Format of an Argument

2.2: Good Argument Form

Validity and Soundness

Validity, Soundness, and Valid Patterns

Quiz on Truth, Validity, and Soundness

Rounding Out Arguments

Hidden Assumptions, Inductive Reasoning, and Good Arguments

2.3: Visualizing How Arguments Work

More Complex Argument Structures

Argument Mapping

2.4: Analogical Arguments

Analogical Arguments

More on Analogical Arguments

2.5: Valid Argument Patterns

Valid Argument Patterns

2.6: Review of Argument Analysis

Discussion: Argument Analysis

Unit 3: Basic Sentential Logic

3.1: The Basics of Logic

What is Logic?

3.1.1: Logical Statements, Connectives, and Relations

Formal Methods of Evaluation

Statements, Logical Connectives, and Logical Relations

3.1.2: Logic Puzzles

Fun Logic Puzzles

The World's Hardest Logic Puzzle Ever!

3.2.1: How to Write Sentences in Sentential Logic

Propositional Logic Functions

Sentential Logic and Well-Formed Formulas

3.2.2: Connectives and Truth Tables

Truth Tables

Connectives

3.2.3: How to Draw Truth Tables for More Complicated Statements

Complex Truth Tables

3.2.4: Properties of Individual Well-Formed Formulas and Relations Between Them

Relationships in Truth Statements

Properties and Relations

3.2.5: Understanding Truth Tables

Understanding Truth Tables

3.2.6: How to Translate Ordinary Statements into Symbolic Formulae

Formalization

3.2.7: Formalization Practice

Propositional Logic and Symbolization

3.2.8: Two Methods for Determining the Validity of an Argument

Validity and the Indirect Method

3.2.9: Why Sentential Logic Is Not Enough

Material Conditional

Unit 4: Venn Diagrams

4.1.1: Venn Diagrams as Illustrations of Sets or Classes

Categorical Logic and The Venn Test of Validity for Immediate Categorical Inferences

Basic Notation

4.1.2: More Complicated Venn Diagrams

Venn Diagram Exercises

4.1.3: Illustrating Experience with Venn Diagrams

Universal Statements and Existential Commitment