PHIL& 115 Critical Thinking (5 credits)
Distribution Area Fulfilled Humanities; General Transfer Elective
Course Description
An informal, non-symbolic introduction to logic and critical thinking emphasizing real-life examples, natural language applications, and the informal logical fallacies.
Course Content
A. Accepted standards of rational judgment
B. Systematic problem solving
C. Objectivity, personal bias and self-interest
D. Philosophical skepticism
E. Probability, consistency and fairness
F. Arguments in oral and written English
G. Reconstruction of arguments: enthymemes and sorties
H. Analysis and evaluation of arguments
I. Induction and deduction
J. Premises and conclusions
K. Common and traditional fallacies
L. Extended arguments
M. Argument diagrams and trees
Student Outcomes
1. Understand and apply accepted standards of rational judgment.
2. Examine and solve problems in a systematic manner.
3. Detect and overcome personal bias and self-interest, gaining an objective viewpoint.
4. Understand how philosophical skepticism can influence thought and judgment.
5. Understand how probability can influence judgment.
6. Practice consistency and fairness in thought processes.
7. Recognize and reconstruct arguments.
8. Separate arguments from non-arguments.
9. Analyze common and traditional fallacies.
10. Separate good arguments from bad arguments.
11. Recognize and explicate ambiguity and vagueness in language.
12. Recognize structure of argument in language.
13. Recognize and supply missing elements in arguments i.e. enthymemes.
14. Explain and rebut fallacies.
15. Distinguish difference between induction and deduction.
16. Distinguish difference between fact and inference.
Degree Outcomes
Humanities: Graduates acquire critical skills to interpret, analyze, and evaluate forms of human expression, which can include creation and performance as an expression of human experience.
Critical, Creative and Reflective Thinking: Graduates will evaluate, analyze, synthesize, and generate ideas; construct informed, meaningful, and justifiable conclusions; and process feelings, beliefs, biases, strengths, and weaknesses as they relate to their thinking, decisions, and creations.
Lecture Contact Hours 50
Lab Contact Hours 0
Clinical Contact Hours 0
Total Contact Hours 50
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