Category Archives: Critical Thinking

Anecdotal Evidence cartoon

via smbc

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How Anecdotal Evidence Can Undermine Scientific Results

Why subjective anecdotes often trump objective data By Michael Shermer  | July 25, 2008 | 27 http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-anecdotal-evidence-can-undermine-scientific-results The recent medical controversy over whether vaccinations cause autism reveals a habit of human cognition—thinking anecdotally comes naturally, whereas thinking scientifically does not.

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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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More on Critical Thinking from Qualiasoup

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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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Teaching the Nature of Science

Three Critical Questions By Randy L. Bell, Ph.D. Teaching the Nature of Science

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Decartes Evil Demon

Power point & questions for grade 10 students. Metaphysics, are you a brain in a vat? Overview of Descartes’ evil demon hypothesis (ppt) Comprehension and understanding questions (doc) Descartes and the Evil Demon answers (doc) (Uploaded by Diane Butler.)

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To think critically means to agree with me! Clarity makes people angry…

Hysterical Dilbert cartoon. Critical thinking, argument, argumentation.

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The Tools of Critical Thinking

Ocham’s Razor episode with Peter Ellerton on Inductive and Deductive Reasoning and courses in schools. Critical thinking. Ockhams Razor – Ellerton (mp3)

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Cognitive Bias in Reasoning

A list of topics from Wikipedia – visit there by clicking on the links – well worth the effort. Decision-making and behavioral biases Many of these biases are studied for how they affect belief formation, business decisions, and scientific research. … Continue reading

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Heads I Win – A study of persitence of belief by Tim van Gelder

A great read on aspects of confirmation bias and the like. Critical thinking. HeadsIWin

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Psychology and Psychics – Why some people think they are psychic.

Interesting article on why people may feel psychic from New Scientist. Philosophy of mind, human nature, psychics, psychology. New Scientist Belief Special 28 January 2006 Glad to be gullible Clare Wilson It is five minutes past midnight and I am alone … Continue reading

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Learn to be Psychic in 10 Easy Lessons

How it’s done from the American Skeptics. Pseudoscience, psychics, cold reading, hypothesis testing. 10_Easy_Psychic_Lessons

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Just think: it’s important

Sydney Morning Herald article on teaching philosophy in schools. Reason being … Peter Ellerton teaches philosophy at Brisbane’s Calamvale Community College and started the Australian Philosophy Teachers Network to get more resources to teachers. Photo: Paul Harris     August 25, … Continue reading

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Intelligent Design – the Myth of Irreducible Complexity

How irreducible complexity, a stalwart of the Intelligent Design movement is NOT supported by the bacterial flagellum. Philosophy of science, philosophy of religion, hypothesis. Mark Perakh discusses how Intelligent Design proponents created the myth that bacterial flagella look like man-made … Continue reading

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Free Will vs the Programmed Brain

If our actions are determined by prior events, then do we have a choice about anything—or any responsibility for what we do? Scientific American. Free will, philosophy of mind, determinism. By Shaun Nichols Many scientists and philosophers are convinced that … Continue reading

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Yes Prime Minister – Survey Design

Brilliant clip of how to design a survey to get the result you want. Bias, social, critical thinking. Yes Minister Survey (wmv)

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