PHIL 102 Chapter 1 Notes
.docx
School
College of Southern Nevada**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
PHIL 102
Subject
Philosophy
Date
Dec 20, 2024
Pages
3
Uploaded by EarlFlagWren27
Chapter 1Critical thinking is thinking that critiques.BELIEFS AND CLAIMSWhen we come to a conclusion, we have a belief. Concluding involves believing.Beliefs and claims are propositional: they can be expressed in true-or-false declarative sentences. Beliefsare the same as judgmentsand opinions. When we express a belief, the result is a statement or claimor assertion, and for our purposes these are the same thing.Objective Claims: Mind-independent, whether it is true or false is independent of whether people think it is true or false.Eg: “There is life on Mars!”“The cup is on the table.”“God is a woman...”“God exists.”“Unicorns exist.” “My car is parked outside.”“Kicking puppies is wrong.” ????????Subjective Claims: Mind-dependent, whether it is true or false is dependent of whether people think it istrue or false.Eg: “My car is kinda crappy.”“Chocolate is delicious.”“Bruno Mars has swag.” “Fox News is the best news station.” FACT AND OPINIONFactual opinion/belief/claim = objective opinion/belief/claim = opinion/belief/claim whose truth is independent of whether anyone thinks it is true.ISSUES– The claim or question at hand. The thing we are discussing.ARGUMENTS – An argument consists of two parts–one part of which (the premiseor premises) is) intended to provide a reason for accepting the other part (the conclusion). An argument is at least one premise, and only one conclusion.1.) God exists. NOT AN ARGUMENT
2.) God exists. That’s as plain as the nose on your face. NOT AN ARGUMENT3.) God exists, and if you don’t believe it, you will go to hell. NOT AN ARGUMENT4.) I think God exists, because I was raised a Catholic. NOT AN ARGUMENT5.) God existsbecause something had to cause the argument.THIS IS AN ARGUMENTUNSTATED PREMISES AND CONCLUSIONS– Premise: You can’t check out books from the library without an ID.(Bill does not have an ID)Conclusion: Bill won’t be able to check out any books. Premise: The shape Anna drew had six sides.(Squares have four sides)Conclusion: The shape Anna drew was not a square. Premise: Riding motorcycles is dangerous.(You should not do dangerous things)Conclusion: You should not ride motorcycles.Premise: Joe Biden stole the election.(Stealing elections is evil)Conclusion: Therefore, Joe Biden is evil.Premise: There have been far too many school shootings this year.(We need to reduce the number of school shootings)(Outlawing guns is the only way to reduce the number of school shootings)Conclusion: Therefore, we need to outlaw guns.COGNITIVE BIASES: Unconsciousfeatures of psychology can affect human mental processes. Belief bias– The tendency to evaluate reasoning by the believability of its conclusion.
Eg:(1) All pit bulls are dogs.(2) Some dogs are things that bite.(3)Therefore, some pit bulls are things that bite.(1) All pit bulls are dogs.(2) Some dogs are terriers.(3) Some pit bulls are terriers. (1) All X are Y.(2) Some Y are Z.(3) Some X are Z.Confirmation bias– The tendency to attach more weight to evidence that supports our viewpoint.Eg: Rejecting the recent performance of a favored sports team. False consensus effect– to assume that our attitudes and those held by people around us are shared by society at large.Eg: “Everybody watched the Barbie movie.”Bandwagon effect– the tendency to align one’s thinking with that of other people.Eg: Consumer products are routinely advertised as “best-sellers.”Negativity Bias– the tendency people have to weigh negative information more heavily than positive information when evaluating things.Eg: “I saw him put something in his pocket. He must be a thief! I shouldn’t trust him!”In-group bias– a set of cognitive biases that make us view people who belong to our group differently (better) from people who don’t.Obedience to authority– a tendency to comply with instructions from an authority.