PHIL347 Week 8 Discussion: Week 8 Discussion: When
the People You Love Don't Think Like You(PHIL347)
Question # 1 - answers In the early stages of cognitive development, we trust
authority figures, such as parents and teachers. As we mature, strong critical
thinkers develop a healthy skepticism and the credibility and authority of a speaker is
evaluated.
Define expert - answers An expert is a person who is learned and experienced in a
particular area of study.
Question #3 - answers The critical thinker has options:
1. Evaluate the credibility of the person making the claim
2. Examine the plausibility of the claim itself
3. investigate the claim independently
Question # 4 - answers There are times when evidence is unavailable and/or we
can't evaluate the authority and expertise of the speaker, and the claim cannot be
confirmed or denied.
The fact that the evidence is not available does not mean the claim is false. It means
only that we cannot find the evidence.
Question #5 - answers When a critical thinker is unable to confirm or discredit a
claim, that is, can't find any evidence to support the claim but also no evidence to
show it is false.
The critical thinker will suspend judgment.
Question #6 - answers When a person is offering an argument, we presume she is
following the rules: that she is speaking the truth, that she is offering reasons to
justify her claim, that her reasons are relevant to her claim, and that she is not
arguing in a circle.
First Rule - answers Truthfulness of the premises
Second Rule - answers Does the argument have logical strength?
Third Rule - answers Are the reasons relevant to the claim?
Fourth Rule - answers Is the argument non-circular?
Question # 7 - answers Sometimes arguments will have a number of reasons.
A critical thinker will look at all of the reasons given for an argument. If even one of
those reasons is sufficient to support the conclusion, the speaker should accept the
argument. Dismissing and otherwise worthy claim because one of the reasons is
false is one of the most common human errors.
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