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Critical Reasoning Summary Notes
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- University Of South Africa (Unisa)
Summary Notes for Critical Reasoning
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PLS2601PHILOSOPHY – CRITICAL REASONING MODULE
INTRODUCTION TO CRITICAL REASONING
first study session 04/02/12 9:40AM
WARM-UP ACTIVITY
1a- We can question if the number of people who watched the movie actually enjoyed the
movie, just because it’s popular with views, doesn’t mean everyone enjoyed it.
b- By adding a percentage of people who enjoyed it out of those who watched, show that
popularity equals quality of the movie.
2a- You’re assuming all pets have fur, and that all pets are mammals. All pets are dogs is the
assumption.
3a- Just because Jacob Zuma didn’t go to university, doesn’t mean his opinion is wrong. His
personal background isn’t related to his opinion.
b- If you could prove his personal background reflects his opinion.
4a- You could say everyone is different so the results wont always be the same, its not to say
the tablets don’t work at all, it might just not work for Sipho.
b- We could say Sipho is the same biologically as everyone else and therefore it should work
the same as if with anyone else.
WHAT IS CRITICAL REASONING?
Critical Reasoning – ability to conceptualise, analyse, question and evaluate ideas
and beliefs.
OPPOSITE OF ---------
Dogma – unquestioned information, embraced without active thought or criticism.
TO REASON CRITICALLY IS TO ----------- challenge dogma and authority.
ACTIVITY
write down the difference in meaning between the two statements.
1- Everybody is innocent until proven guilty.
All people are assumed innocent until someone can prove them guilty.
2- Nobody is guilty until proven not to be innocent.
No one is guilty unless someone can prove they are guilty.
1- Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law.
Any one thing out of all the things you say may be used against you.
2- Everything you say may be used against you in a court of law.
All the things you say may be used against you.
1- If you are not religious you are bad.
2- If you are religious, you are good.
, 1- If you do not vote, you may not complain about the outcome.
If you don’t vote you can’t complain about the outcome of the vote.
2- People who do not vote have no say.
If you don’t vote you have no input into the election.
1- As the economy is on a downslide, we need to save money.
We need to save money because the economy is on a downslide.
2- We need to save money when the economy is on a downslide.
When the economy is on a downslide, then we need to save money.
QUESTIONS
1- Julius Malema is portrayed only in one light, as a political misfit who constantly gets
himself into trouble.
2- Malema uses very emotionally charged words and phrases to evoke in people, strong
reactions and feelings so he can receive the reactions he wants from people.
3- No, because I have no faith in his leadership style.
4- No, I don’t think he thought critically about his statements, he makes rash emotional
statements to get an immediate response. A lot of his statements are very
controversial and confrontational, he obviously hasn’t thought about how others
outside the ANCYL would view his statements.
OBSTACLES TO CLEAR THINKING
second study session 21/02/12 8:54AM
2.1 PRECONCEIVED IDEAS
- Ideas, Notions, Views, Opinions which decisively influence our thinking but
which we have not critically reflected on.
- Not all preconceived ideas are fallacious
- But we must constantly consider preconceived ideas and critically test
their validity.
2.1.1 SOCIAL CONDITIONING
- inherited or assimilated biased attitudes and values gained from parents,
school, friends, society etc. that seem to be obviously true.
- the customs, social institutions and material setting of our place and time
decisively influences the way in which we see the world, this background is
our frame of reference.
ACTIVITY
consider the following claims (or opinions) about two people from different backgrounds and
then answer the questions that follow
Claim: Peter grew up in the wealthy northern suburbs of Johannesburg. Therefore, Peter is
likely to believe in the values of individuality and the superiority if Capitalism.
Claim: Paul grew up in the poor suburbs of Alexandra. Therefore, Paul is likely to believe in
the value of community and the superiority of socialism.
1- Do you think these claims are based on sound reasoning? Why? Why not?
No, these claims and their reasons are not sound.
2- Would you say that these claims are based on preconceived ideas? Why? Why not?
Yes, these are preconceived ideas about different society’s values and attitudes
based on economic status.
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