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Unit of study_
PHIL2642: Critical Thinking
2022 unit information
An introduction to critical thinking and analysis of argument. By examining arguments drawn from diverse sources, including journalism, advertising, science, medicine, history, economics and politics, we will learn how to distinguish good from bad arguments, and how to construct rationally persuasive arguments of our own. Along the way we will grapple with scepticism, conspiracy theories and pseudoscience. The reasoning skills imparted by this unit make it invaluable not only for philosophy students but for every student at the University.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Arts and Social Sciences
| Study level | Undergraduate |
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| Academic unit | Philosophy |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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12 credit points at 1000 level |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. understand the differences between various forms of argument, including deduction, induction, causal arguments, scientific arguments and probabilistic arguments
- LO2. assess the strengths and weaknesses of arguments of these various forms
- LO3. detect deductive validity and soundness
- LO4. detect and label a broad range of common fallacies
- LO5. develop stronger arguments, and to revise and/or defend those arguments in the face of criticism
- LO6. analyse examples from a broad range of sources including journalism, advertising, economics and politics, students will learn how to identify and interpret arguments in many forms of text
- LO7. analyse, evaluate and construct arguments
- LO8. solve practical problems and resolve real-life disputes by reasoning clearly
- LO9. structure and present ideas and arguments clearly and logically, both orally (in tutorial discussions) and in writing (in assessment tasks)
- LO10. expand their creative thinking skills through constructing new criticisms, and new defences, of a varied range of arguments.
Unit availability
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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