Module Details

The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title CRITICAL, ANALYTICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING
Code PHIL112
Coordinator Dr D Hill
Philosophy
Djhill@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2020-21 Level 4 FHEQ First Semester 15

Aims

To introduce students to the concepts and methods of informal logic and to enable students to use these concepts and methods in assessing arguments both within and outside philosophy. To help students to think more logically themselves, and to locate and remove inconsistencies in their own thoughts. To introduce students to methods of causal, statistical and probabilistic reasoning and to enable students to identify and avoid causal, statistical and probabilistic fallacies. To enable students to think creatively about problems and to come up with rational solutions to them, and to make logical decisions in the light of available evidence.


Learning Outcomes

(LO1) Students will able to explain and apply the basic concepts of logic.

(LO2) Students will be able to identify conclusions and premises in arguments, including hidden premises.

(LO3) Students will be able to reconstruct and evaluate arguments.

(LO4) Students will be able to distinguish between reasoning and rhetoric and to identify fallacies and rhetorical ploys in arguments.

(LO5) Students will be able to distinguish between deductive and inductive inference, including distinguishing between different types of inductive inference, enumerative, statistical, causal, analogical.

(LO6) Students will be able to tell when a given set of statements is logically consistent and when it is not.

(LO7) Students will be able to explain some of the problems with relativism about truth.

(LO8) Students will be able to explain and apply some of the basic principles of statistics and of probability theory.

(LO9) Students will be able to demonstrate creative thinking by spotting possibilities missed by less creative thinkers.

(S1) Students will enhance their abilities in reading and understanding texts and in comprehending abstract material.

(S2) Students will develop their skills in thinking critically, analysing problems and analysing and assessing arguments.

(S3) Students will enhance their ability to identify the issues that underlie debates.

(S4) Students will develop confidence in considering previously unfamiliar ideas and approaches, and their ability to identify presuppositions and to reflect critically upon them.

(S5) Students will enhance their ability to marshal arguments and present them orally and in writing.

(S6) Students will develop their ability to work independently.

(S7) Students will develop their ability to sift through information, assessing the relevance and importance of the information to what is at issue.

(S8) Students will develop their problem-solving skills.

(S9) Students will enhance their capacity to participate, in a dispassionate and respectful manner, in debates about controversial and profound matters.

(S10) Students will develop their willingness critically to evaluate and reflect upon arguments, beliefs, proposals and values, both their own and those of others.

(S11) Communication; oral, written and visual. Influencing skills, argumentation.

(S12) Critical thinking and problem solving; critical analysis

(S13) Critical thinking and problem solving; creative thinking.

(S14) Information skills; critical reading.

(S15) Information skills; evaluation.

(S16) Numeracy and computational skills. Reason with numbers and mathematical concepts.

(S17) Numeracy and computational skills; problem solving.


Syllabus

 

What is Critical Thinking?

Finding Arguments & Standard Form

What Makes a Good Argument?

Fallacies and Relevance

Premises and Conclusions

Definitions

Language and Clarity

Rhetoric and Emotion

Identifying Propositional Statements

Evaluating Propositional Arguments

Generalizations and Quantifiers

Venn Diagrams, Contradiction & Contrariety

Reasoning with Generalizations

Analogical Arguments and Refutation by Counter
example

Descriptive Statistics

Statistical Arguments

Causal Arguments

Reason and Normative Ethics

Reason and Meta Ethics

Probability

Reasoning with Probability

Creative Thinking


Teaching and Learning Strategies

Teaching Method 1 (hybrid/online) - Lecture
Description: Lectures offer a map of the syllabus and a framework for independent inquiry-led research. Students are encouraged to engage actively with lectures through, for example: (i) mailing in/asking their questions during the session; (ii) reflecting on and responding to questions posed to them in the lecture.
Attendance Recorded: No
Delivery notes: Pre-recorded videos uploaded to Canvas
a) mixed, hybrid delivery, with social distancing on campus: on-line lectures
(b) fully online delivery and assessment: on-line lectures
(c) standard on campus delivery with minimal social distancing: on-campus lectures


Teaching Schedule

  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 22

        8

2

32
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 116
TOTAL HOURS 148

Assessment

EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
Assessment 2: Online test (IF HYBRID/ONLINE) Assessment Description: Unseen multiple-choice examination, testing knowledge, memory, and understanding; ability to think quickly under pressure; ability  2 hours (80 question    60       
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
Assessment 1: On-line tests Assessment type: Coursework Reassessment Opportunity: Re-assessment/re-submission opportunities are provided in accordance with University requirements: 8 re-takes, one f  8 x 1 hour    40       

Recommended Texts

Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.