The Myth of Critical Thinking

Discussion in 'General Philosophy' started by Magical Realist, Feb 22, 2017.

  1. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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    There is no objective method for using reason and logic. You just do it. Or you don't. Noone can dictate what line of thinking to take to arrive at the truth.
     
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  3. arfa brane call me arf Valued Senior Member

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    Unless you happen to be writing a program in some computer language.

    I'm wingin' it here, but I'll guess you haven't tried to . . .?
     
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  5. Michael 345 New year. PRESENT is 72 years oldl Valued Senior Member

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    So just do it think subjectively is the method used by real Scientist

    Do you happen to know what ensemble brand these real Scientist wear?

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  7. Michael 345 New year. PRESENT is 72 years oldl Valued Senior Member

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    I never thought of that

    Must remember in case comes in handy

    I know not directed to me but I did write a computer program

    Visual Basic 5

    Tiny program to teach names of the bones of the skeleton

    Had diagrams of the sections of the skeleton and you could test your knowledge of the names by typing into the label section next to the bone

    Press CHECK and label turned Green correct Red wrong

    Anyway yes OBJECTIVE was the only way to go

    I'm just thinking of all those poor FAKE Scientist working on the Manhattan Project

    If they had only just sat down like REAL Scientist and just thought about it subjectively they could have wrapped it up in a week

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    Perhaps I should contact Bas Lansdorp about this breakthrough way to get to Mars

    Or perhaps not

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  8. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

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    OK, that's a problem.

    Perhaps it might be time to acknowledge that people know a little bit about what they're talking about, and asking questions when you don't know stuff might be more appropriate than name-calling and hostility. Something to consider.
     
  9. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

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    This was posted (though not by me) as a recording of alleged pixies.
    Would you be comfortable calling these "identified"?

     
  10. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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    Writing a computer program = using logic and reason? I don't think so.
     
  11. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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    You haven't given any sign you know what you're talking about and have so far dodged my question "how do you define critical thinking." What's so hard about this? You're the one always touting it. Tell us what it is.
     
  12. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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    How does one standardize rigor and honesty?
     
  13. Michael 345 New year. PRESENT is 72 years oldl Valued Senior Member

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    Would you be comfortable calling these "identified"?

    No

    But in your post you did identify them as pixies not alleged pixies

    The videos I, without knowing the specific background of the clips, would class all as UFO stuff

    That's only from previous exposure to similar material

    Though the video makes reference to infrared light as being the only light by which they can be seen most did not look like infrared film

    The claim they are alive would require a detailed book of proof not out of focus shaky video

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  14. arfa brane call me arf Valued Senior Member

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    Oh really? Do you believe humans can write programs without using reason and logic? They just type whatever comes into their head and, as if by magic, it works first time? I don't think so.

    Moreover, since you have to use a computer language, even assembly language, it's objective. You don't get to subjectively decide what correct programming logic is.
     
  15. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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    Do you believe humans can use reason and logic without writing programs? They do all the time. Therefore writing a program does not equal using reason and logic.
     
  16. dumbest man on earth Real Eyes Realize Real Lies Valued Senior Member

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    ...or...maybe not...
     
  17. arfa brane call me arf Valued Senior Member

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    You're using an argument based on a fallacy. If a implies b, logically b doesn't necessarily imply a.

    I said you use reason and logic when you write programs (because you just do), in answer to your claim (post #41) about not using them objectively. Generally writing or designing software involves critical thinking, I believe (I think I'm not the only one who believes that).

    How about designing an electronic circuit? Would you use reason and logic if you were doing that? Or just connect a bunch of components together as the mood takes you? Or perhaps you're saying that using reason and logic together somehow precludes actually doing anything?
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2017
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  18. exchemist Valued Senior Member

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    Ah but, you see, you are falling into the trap of critical thinking here.

    If you are prepared to embrace true freedom by throwing off the hidebound, conformist, "mainstream" yoke of critical thinking, you can argue any old shit. Imagine the possibilities! Ghosts? UFOs? Pixies? No problem!

    Far superior, I'm sure you will agree.

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    Unless, perhaps, you design airliners for a living.............
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2017
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  19. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

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    Why would you? It takes some personal judgement, since we can always be wrong. It's more of an iterative thing. The important thing is that you seek evidence that is reliable as possible.
     
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  20. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

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    This the exactly the problem I'm having with the OP.

    If red is a colour
    then 'colours' and 'red' are synonymous.
    No.
     
  21. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

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    You treat this like you have the right to demand answers to your questions, and that it is somehow our responsibility to educate you in something you admittedly don't know about.

    And when you don't like what you hear, you will haul out your epithets troll and liar.

    Why would anyone choose to help you?

    Sure, we can discuss things as much as we want, but let's make no mistake, the prosecution reserves the right to treat the witness as hostile.
     
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  22. Yazata Valued Senior Member

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    I don't think that it's a myth. Of course, I don't think that the self-styled 'skeptics' (are they a 'community'?) always represent the best examples of it.

    The way I see it, critical thinking means avoiding informal fallacies, being aware of the unstated factual assumptions and implicit value judgments implicit in our own and other people's arguments, and stuff like that.

    How about 'thinking well'?

    Which presumes that the so-called 'skeptics' are better thinkers than their opponents. That shouldn't just be assumed as a given. It needs to received... critically.

    I agree that's oftentimes the case. It's a very tendentious rhetorical use of the phrase 'critical thinking' to suggest that 'I'm the brilliant one' while 'Anyone who disagrees with me isn't thinking properly'. Those are awfully strong (and self-serving) assumptions and they will need to be defended. Critical thought works both ways.
     
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  23. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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    No more a fallacy than you saying writing programs = using reason and logic because writing programs is an instance of using reason and logic.

    '

    I don't think following any procedure of memorized steps is actually using reasoning. And it's certainly not critical thinking as I see it defined. I think it is repeating actions you have learned and matching what you do to the dictates of the problem you are trying to solve. What is being reasoned about there? What judgments or factual data are being used? You might as well be a monkey solving a block puzzle.
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2017

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