C168 WGU Critical Thinking and Logic June 2017

C168 WGU Critical Thinking and Logic June 2017 Clarity Correct Answer- Being unambiguous and easily understood Purpose Correct Answer- The goal or objective of reasoning Concepts Correct Answer- General categories or ...

C168 WGU Critical Thinking and Logic June 2017 Clarity Correct Answer- Being unambiguous and easily understood Purpose Correct Answer- The goal or objective of reasoning Concepts Correct Answer- General categories or ideas by which we interpret or classify information used in our thinking Inference Correct Answer- A logical process of drawing conclusions Precision Correct Answer- Being precise or exact Implication Correct Answer- What logically follows from reasoning Assumptions Correct Answer- Unstated or hidden beliefs that support our explicit reasoning about something Point of view Correct Answer- The particular perspective from which something is observed or thought through Accuracy Correct Answer- Being near to the true value or meaning of something Egocentrism Correct Answer- The tendency to view everything in relationship to oneself and to regard one's own opinions, values, or interests as most importantFair-mindedness Correct Answer- The commitment to consider all relevant opinions equally without regard to one's own sentiments or selfish interests Fallacies Correct Answer- Flaws or errors in reasoning which, when found in the premise of an argument, invalidate its conclusion Intellectual cowardice Correct Answer- Fear of ideas or viewpoints that do not conform to one's own Intellectual empathy Correct Answer- The act of routinely inhabiting the perspectives of others in order to genuinely understand them Intellectual humility Correct Answer- Openness to the possibility that one's beliefs are mistaken and a willingness to reevaluate them in the face of new evidence or persuasive counterarguments Intellectual perseverance Correct Answer- The act of working one's way through intellectual complexities despite frustrations inherent in doing so Second-order thinking Correct Answer- Another term for critical thinking. It is first-order thinking (or ordinary thinking) that is consciously realized (i.e., analyzed, assessed, and improved) First-order thinking Correct Answer- Ordinary thinking that is spontaneous and non-reflective, contains insight, prejudice and good and bad reasoning, and is indiscriminately combined Sociocentrism Correct Answer- The assumption that one's own social group is inherently superior to all others; seeing the social conventions, beliefs and taboos of your society as the only correct way to live and think Sophistry Correct Answer- The ability to win an argument regardless of flaws in its reasoningStereotype Correct Answer- A fixed or oversimplified conception of a person, group, or idea Strong-sense critical thinking Correct Answer- Thinking that uses critical thinking skills to evaluate all beliefs, especially one's own, and that pursues what is intellectually fair and just Weak-sense critical thinking Correct Answer- Thinking that does not consider counter viewpoints, that lacks fair-mindedness and that uses critical thinking skills simply to defend current beliefs Common factor method Correct Answer- In analyzing causation, looking for a single shared factor Concomitant variation Correct Answer- In analyzing causation, looking for a pattern of variation between a possible cause and a possible effect Process of elimination Correct Answer- In analyzing causation, successively ruling out noncausal factors until one correct causal factor remains Question of fact Correct Answer- A question with one correct answer Question of judgment Correct Answer- A question with competing and debatable answers Question of preference Correct Answer- A question with many possible subjective answers Single difference method Correct Answer- In analyzing causation, looking for a causal factor that is present in one situation but absent in another similar situation Socratic questioning Correct Answer- A systematic, disciplined approach to asking questions aimed at assessing truthActivated Ignorance Correct Answer- False information that is mistakenly believed to be true and acted upon Activated Knowledge Correct Answer- Truthful information that is employed to pursue more knowledge and/or is acted upon Ad hominem fallacy Correct Answer- Dismissing an argument by attacking the person who offers it rather than by refuting its reasoning Appeal to authority fallacy Correct Answer- To justify support for a position by citing an esteemed or well-known figure who supports it Appeal to experience fallacy Correct Answer- Claiming to speak with the "voice of experience" in support of an argument (even when that experience may not be relevant) Appeal to fear fallacy Correct Answer- Citing a threat or possibility of a frightening outcome as the reason for supporting an argument Appeal to popularity/ popular passions fallacy Correct Answer- Citing majority sentiment or popular opinion as the reason for supporting a claim Attacking evidence fallacy Correct Answer- Seeking to falsely discredit the underlying evidence for an argument and thereby questioning its validity Begging the question Correct Answer- Asserting a conclusion that is assumed in the reasoning Bias Correct Answer- A partiality or prejudice that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situationDenying inconsistencies fallacy Correct Answer- Refusing to admit contradictions or inconsistencies when making an argument or defending a position Either-or fallacy Correct Answer- Assuming only two alternatives when, in reality, there are more than two Evading questions fallacy Correct Answer- Avoiding direct and truthful answers to difficult questions through diversionary tactics, vagueness, or deliberately confusing or complex responses