If you are reading this, as opposed to merely perceiving refracted light, then what you see conveys meaning. This is an astonishing fact, since what you see looks almost nothing like what it represents.
HOPE
Communication presupposes and produces understanding. Interpersonal understanding requires the ability to perceive other meaning-making beings and to make sense of what is encountered. Critical thinking is careful thinking; it is thinking about what we are thinking. Careful thinking is a check on the understanding we hope to communicate.
Approximately 6% of all homo sapiens who have ever lived are alive today. Many of us are consciously using careful thinking skills to attempt to engender increased cooperation with the realizable goal of making life incrementally better for all. The success of the scientific enterprise, as well as social activism, testify to this possibility. The number of those joining the conversation must steadily increase, for we confront obstacles that otherwise threaten our continuation.
Critical thinking, or careful thinking, is then no trivial matter, and if you are reading this, you possess the capacity. The key is recognizing and then consciously using the intellectual tools you already possess. (They always benefit from sharpening.) I hope, then, that you will recognize and use yourself in tandem with other minded beings.
SYLLABUS PHIL 11 - Critical Thinking
SYLLABUS PHIL 105 - Critical Thinking and Discourse
SYLLABUS PHIL 170 - LOGIC AND CRITICAL THINKING
SYLLABUS PHIL 172 - CRITICAL THINKING AND WRITING
“He really makes you think!
He’s awesome.
Explains in great detail all subject matter and provides plenty of practice and examples to develop a proper understanding of the topic at hand.
Very engaging.
His sense of humor makes class enjoyable.
No weaknesses as a teacher.
Very real life concepts and lessons we learn from him that have already greatly benefited my life.
I just had a significant breakthrough with a situation that was troubling me using some of your critical thinking knowledge, thank you. I arrived at a better solution.
It is obvious you care about people, and the absolute necessity of sharing any plan to help them navigate the difficult sensory overload they receive to make good decisions.
I just wanted to write you and thank you. This may be one of the best classes I have ever taken in college, (PHIL 7 online Introduction to Ethics) and a lot of the reason why is because of the way you teach the class. Thank you for having such a clear and organized course, for giving so much feedback, and for the constant encouragement in the class. I have not been stressed out in this course, and I am really enjoying the material and the structure of the course. I do feel challenged academically, however, it is very manageable thanks to you. I hope this message reaches you well.
INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS STUDENT: ‘I just wanted to quickly email you and thank you for a very fun and enjoyable class! I was hesitant about the pace and content of the class, however I thought it was very fair and I was still able to take in all of the information. I also wanted to thank you for the amount of feedback I received. Most of the classes I take are huge STEM classes where I rarely get feedback on my work unless I personally reach out or attend office hours, so I greatly appreciate how much work you put into us students. I thought this class was great and I definitely see myself applying the concepts we learned to real life situations.’
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SO MANY QUESTIONS . . .
What is the point of thinking carefully?
Is thinking carefully always beneficial?
What is a mind?
What is the difference between a resembling representation, and a non-resembling representation?
How is fallacious reasoning recognized, and is it always a negative thing?
What is a fact?
Are values, facts?
Must my reasoning always be "absolute" if I am reasoning well?
Who has authority, or expertise, and why is it so highly regarded anyway?
What is knowledge, and when are we justified in claiming to possess it?