Author Archives: Peter Ellerton

About Peter Ellerton

Director of the University of Queensland Critical Thinking Project and Lecturer in Critical Thinking.

Post modernism explained?

Obviously simplistic, but ripe for comment!

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Philosophy of Religion website

A wonderfully organised overview of the classic philosophy of religion issues, arguments and problems. http://www.philosophyofreligion.info/

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What’s logic got to do with it? – Some of the greatest flashes of scientific inspiration were sparked by utterly illogical thinking.

POPULAR belief has it that science is the preserve of logical Mr Spocks. A great scientific discovery must surely spring from a series of logical steps, each taken coolly and calmly, in the rational order. But take some time to … Continue reading

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Top Ten Evolution Myths – and how we know it really happened (pdf)

Often misunderstandings about evolution are really misunderstandings about how science operates.  This document deals with both rather nicely.  Philosophy of Science. From the Skeptics Society.    Top Ten Evolution Myths (pdf)

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Hooked on Horoscopes (pdf)

We may not be able to persuade people that astrology and graphology are nonsense, but psychology, with the help of a showman, reveals why they are so popular.  The Barnum effect.  Psychology and critical thinking. Hooked on horoscopes (pdf)

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Banning Religion – An interesting hypothetical

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Richard Feynman on the nature of science

A beautiful analogy between science and chess.

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More on Critical Thinking from Qualiasoup

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Consciousness – science tackles the self (pdf)

We know that we are aware of ourselves. But we don’t know how. And we are not even sure why. The answers may lie in the physical processes of consciousness 01 April 1989 by SUSAN BLACKMORE New Scientists Magazine issue … Continue reading

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Critical Thinking beautifully explained

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Philosophy in Senior Schools

(From my appearance on ABC Radio National’s ‘Philosopher’s Zone) http://www.abc.net.au/rn/philosopherszone/stories/2007/1911312.htm Philosophy is about asking childlike questions – how do we know the world exists? How do we know it hasn’t just started existing? Why can’t we go back in time? … Continue reading

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Some important tools of critical thinking

(from my Ockham’s Razor appearance on the ABC’s Radio National) http://www.abc.net.au/rn/ockhamsrazor/stories/2010/2975629.htm  Robyn Williams: And now, the bad news. No, don’t run off – this is interesting – even Quite Interesting, as Stephen Fry might say. Here I’ll quote directly from a … Continue reading

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Logic in conversation

Why knowing deductive logic is not always an advantage..  Another Dilbert classic.

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Meat without slaughter: ‘6 months’ to bio-sausages – science-in-society – 31 August 2011 – New Scientist

Meat without slaughter: ‘6 months’ to bio-sausages – science-in-society – 31 August 2011 – New Scientist.

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