Present two things of value that you’ve learned about critical thinking in this module. Then, identify a time in your own experience when you failed to exhibit one of these qualities, as well as a time when you succeeded in fulfilling one of these ideals. Describe the different outcomes of these two engagements. What did you learn from each? How does this pertain to Socrates’ claim that the unexamined life is not worth living? Initial posts are to be 500-600 words and should be posted directly into the forum, not as attachments.
Down below are some of the things we learned this week.
Module 1 Objectives
Completion requirements
Mark as done
*Appreciate why critical thinking is better than the passive acceptance of beliefs.
*Appreciate the relevance of the claim “The unexamined life is not worth living” to critical thinking
*Contrast a world where no critical thinking is needed with the world we live in.
*Clarify the meaning of critical thinking.
*Distinguish between weak-sense and strong-sense critical thinking.
*Integrate the role of values with critical thinking.
Check out this video to see the role of asking the right questions in the critical thinking process. Remember, as critical thinkers we are enjoined to think actively, which is to say, we don’t just receive information passively like a sponge. Think of the process more like “panning for gold.” We are charged with sifting valid or useful concepts from information that might be misleading or irrelevant. Also, pay careful attention to the observation here that critical thinking isn’t about being critical in the common sense of the term. We do not engage in this process in order to slam points of view. We engage in it in order to dissect and comprehend them. (PLEASE NOTE: YOU MIGHT HAVE TO COPY AND PASTE THE LINK IN A NEW WINDOW)
Socrates was a pivotal figure in the history of philosophy, and the consummate critical thinker insofar as he always asked questions rather than passively receiving the conventional opinions of the day. Given his overall convictions, charisma, and the range and depth of his thought, that description is almost an understatement. I would like to introduce him like this: Before Socrates, philosophers were preoccupied with the nature of the physical universe. They were like natural scientists in a sense, though they relied more on general speculation than on concrete empirical research. They questioned the ultimate physical nature of the cosmos, and provided general accounts such as, ultimate reality is comprised of air, or earth, or fire, etc. Or they sought general explanations to explain why everything changes, or why there is no such thing as change. When Socrates comes along he turns the philosophical gaze inward, you might say, and for the first time, begins to focus inquiry on the human being and his/her place in society, rather than the character of the physical universe. With Socrates, self-examination becomes key. As he says in Plato’s dialogue, the Apology, which I post below, “the unexamined life is not worth living.” If I could sum up Socrates in a word, it would be to say that he asked tough questions in order to improve himself and his community. The web link immediately below describe his life and the dramatic circumstances surrounding his trial and execution. (PLEASE NOTE: YOU WILL HAVE TO COPY AND PASTE THE LINK INTO A NEW WINDOW)
We also read Platos apology
