PHL 221 Critical Thinking

This course is aimed at developing practical reasoning skills. Students will learn to analyze and evaluate arguments, detect fallacies, distinguish science from pseudo-science, recognize media bias, and better understand methods of deception employed by advertisers, political organizations and others. A central goal of this course is to develop an attitude of fair-mindedness and intellectual honesty while learning to avoid the pitfalls of defensiveness and rationalization.

Credits

4

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Apply analytical skills to social phenomena in order to understand human behavior 2. Developing practical reasoning skills. Students will learn to analyze and evaluate arguments, detect fallacies, distinguish science from pseudo-science, recognize media bias, and better understand methods of deception employed by advertisers, political organizations and others
3. Apply knowledge and experience to foster personal growth and better appreciate the diverse social world in which we live. A central goal of this course is to develop an attitude of fair mindedness and intellectual honesty while learning to avoid the pitfalls of defensiveness and rationalization
4. Understand the role of individuals and institutions within the context of society. Students learn the importance of independent thinking while recognizing the value of educational and scientific institutions which can help them critically evaluate claims
5. Assess different theories and concepts, and understand the distinctions between empirical and other methods of inquiry. Students study methods of evaluating different theories and assessing their strengths and weaknesses
6. Utilize appropriate information literacy skills in written and oral communication. Students critically analyze arguments in class discussion and in critical essays and papers
7. Understand the diversity of human experience and thought, individually and collectively. Students survey a variety of irrational viewpoints and poor arguments, as well as rational and strong arguments from classic literature to mass media, advertising and politics
8. Apply knowledge and skills to contemporary problems and issues. Students must develop their own point of view and make arguments for it on a variety of current issues in applied ethics