Critical Thinking

Ronald S. Lau, Ph.D.

HKUST ISOM

Learning to make better decisions through

critical thinking

To live is to act. To act is to decide. Everyday work and life

are an endless sequence of decisions. Some of the decisions
are small and inconsequential, and some are large and lifedetermining. When your patterns of decision-making are
rational, you live a rational life. When your patterns are
irrational, you live an irrational life. Rational decisions
maximize the quality of your life and your chances of
happiness, successful living, and fulfillment. Critical thinking
improves your decision-making abilities by raising your
patterns of decision-making to the level of conscious and
deliberate choice.
http://www.criticalthinking.org/conference/Business_Seminar.cfm

Role of critical thinking in decision making

and problem solving

Reasonable reflective thinking focused on

deciding what to believe or do
Active systematic process of understanding
and evaluating arguments

Critical
Thinking

Decision
Making

Analytical
Thinking

Problem
Solving

Statistical
Thinking

Multiple dimensions of critical thinking

Verbal
reasoning

Argument
analysis

Thinking
as
hypothesis
testing

Decision
making
and
problem
solving

Likelihood
and
uncertainty

Introduction to critical thinking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oefmPtsV_w4

What is critical thinking?

Critical = Evaluative ( Skeptical)

Source: http://www.asa3.org/ASA/education/think/critical.htm

How to be evaluative (skeptical)?

Analyzing
Conceptualizing
Defining
Examining
Inferring
Listening
Questioning
Reasoning
Synthesizing

Evaluating information
+

in a disciplined way

Evaluating our thought

Help us refine our thought process

Think and process information more comprehensively

More able to identify and reject false ideas/ideologies
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OLPL5p0fMg

Becoming a critical thinker

We can be a critical thinker if we:

Recognize the flaw in our thinking (incl. decision traps)

Develop a habit of being critical (evaluative or skeptical)

and we could be another

Sherlock Holmes!!!
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Incorporating logic in the thinking process

Logic is the activity of drawing inferences (conclusions)

from a body of information
Symbolic or formal logic

Emphasize on the precise symbolic representation of logical

concepts, the study of the abstract relationships between these
concepts, and the systematization of these relationships
Example: All members of al-Qaeda are our enemies and bin
Laden is a member of al-Qaeda bin Laden is our enemy

Informal logic (critical thinking)

Emphasize on the application of logical concepts to the analysis

of everyday reasoning and problem solving
Use of reason in the pursuit of truth
Example: Why all members of al-Qaeda are our enemies?
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We always think we are logical

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Getting started with logical vocabulary

Statement or proposition

A sentence which has a truth-value, either true or false

Example: The moon is 150 miles above the earth (?)

Argument

A collection of statements
Supporting statements are referred to as premises and the one
supposedly being supported is called the conclusion
Argument based on inductive vs. deductive reasoning

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Reasoning: Inductive vs. Deductive

Specific

Induction

General

Example: I've noticed previously that every time I kick a

ball up, it comes back down. So next time when I kick it
up, it will come back down.

General

Deduction

Specific

Example: According to the Newton's Law, everything that

goes up must come down. So, if you kick the ball up, it
must come down.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8xxtygm_xM

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Making a valid deductive argument

Inductive argument

Deductive argument

The conclusion probably follows from its premises

Strong vs. weak

The conclusion is claimed to necessarily follow from its premises

Valid vs. invalid

Validity

About the logical connection between premises and a conclusion

Valid argument when a conclusion follows from premises
If all premises are true/acceptable, the conclusion must also be
true/acceptable

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Assessing the validity with a Truth Table

Validity

Validity concerns the relationship between the premises and the

conclusion, and not the actual truth values of the component
statements (i.e., soundness)
The validity of logical implications if p then q can be assessed
by a Truth Table:
p

pq

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A valid argument does not imply true

premises and a true conclusion

Examples

All pigs can fly. Anything that can fly can swim. Therefore, all
pigs can swim.
Premises and conclusion of a valid argument can possibly

be false

A loves B. B loves C. Therefore, A loves C.

Argument can possibly be invalid even if the conclusion and

premises are all true

All pigs are purple in color. Anything that is purple is an animal.

Therefore, all pigs are animals.
A valid argument can possibly have a true conclusion but

false premises

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Is it possible that 1 = 2?

a=b

Start with this

ab = b2

Multiply by b

ab a2 = b2 a2

Subtract a2

a(b a) = (b a) (b + a)

Factor

a=b+a

Divide by (b a)

a=a+a

Since a = b, substitute

a = 2a

Simplify

1=2

Divide by a
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Making a sound deductive argument

Soundness

Must be valid
Every premises has to be either true or acceptable

Example

Valid and sound argument

Cows are mammals. Mammals are animals. Therefore, cows

are animals.

Valid but unsound argument

Cows are insects. Insects are mammals. Therefore, cows

are mammals.

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Classification of arguments

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Fallacies

Potential problems with premises

Factual errors, intentional or unintentional

Unwarranted assumption (people tend to choose assumptions
that best fit the conclusion they prefer)
Hidden or unstated major premises

Logical fallacies

Even when all premises of an argument are reliably true, it may

still be invalid if the logic employed is not legitimate
Deceptive arguments in which the conclusion is not well
supported by the premises
Examples

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Valid vs. fallacious argument

Valid argument

Fallacious argument

For more example, http://www.don-lindsay-archive.org/skeptic/arguments.html

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False premises lead to doubtful conclusions

Fallacy

Fallacies of deception

An argument that tends to persuade us, even though it is a bad

argument
Can be a valid but not sound argument, If A then B

Distraction
Counterfeit

Fallacies that use motive

Appeal to force (or fear)

Appeal to pity
Prejudicial use of language
Appeal to authority

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/

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Example: Clinical research humor

The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks
than the British or the Americans.
On the other hand, the French eat a lot of fat and also suffer
fewer heart attacks than the British or the Americans.
The Japanese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart
attacks than the British or the Americans.
The Italians drink excessive amounts of red wine and also suffer
fewer heart attacks than the British or the Americans.
Conclusion?

Eat and drink whatever you like. It's speaking English that kills
you.
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