CRITICAL THINKING

The course aims to provide students with tools of thought that will enable them to investigate different areas of scholarship in a critical - i.e. autonomous and rigorous - manner.
The methods and concepts covered in the course are applicable to various fields such as politics, law, economics, science, religion, art, architecture and philosophy.

The learning outcome of the course is the ability to recognise, analyse, evaluate and construct correct arguments: the ability to identify their background assumptions, premises, conclusions and forms of justification; to construct and formulate rigorous arguments; to recognise fallacious arguments and distinguish between credible and non-credible sources of information; to evaluate which type of argument is appropriate in a given situation.
Students will also learn the most common strategies for debunking and detecting fallacious arguments.

The only prerequisite is a willingness to learn, to reflect and to discuss one's ideas openly, honestly and frankly.

1 - Language and rhetoric
The role of reasons as justification in thought and action
Recognising, reconstructing, analysing, evaluating, and giving reasons
2 - Definitions
The critical function of definitions
Types of definitions
Recognising and improving definitions
3 - Claims
Claims and truth
Claims and credibility
Claims and knowledge
Other sources of information
4 - Arguments
Premises, Conclusions, Assumptions
Identifying and reconstructing arguments
The principle of charity
Deductive arguments
Inductive arguments
Other types of arguments
5 - Types of arguments
Forms of argument and validity
Argument types and soundness
Simple and complex arguments
Arguments involving probability
6 - Applications: formulating and evaluating arguments
Scientific arguments
Moral arguments
Aesthetic arguments
Political arguments
Recognising fallacies

The following handbooks contain precious information and many exercises.
It is, however, possible to attend the course without using those books, because lessons will not follow their chapters.
1. Bowell,Tracy, Cowan, Robert, Kemp, Gary: Critical Thinking: A Concise Guide, Routledge, 2019
2. Fisher, Alec: Critical Thinking: An Introduction, Cambridge University Press, 2011

1 - Regular lesson attendance and active participation in class discussion;
2 - Interim tests;
3 - final written test.

The Interim test and the final test will consist exclusively of critical thinking exercises.
The exercises will be exactly the same as those given to students as homework.
It is, therefore, strongly recommended that students do their homework on a regular basis

written

The instructor is responsible for ensuring the authenticity and originality of all examinations and coursework. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, an additional on-site assessment may be required during the exams, which may differ from the standard format.

18>23 Sufficient ability to apply critical thinking procedures
24>27 Good ability to apply critical thinking techniques
27/30 Ability to solve complex problems using critical thinking techniques

Lectures by the teacher
Discussions
Excercises
Discussion of case studies