Don't just believe, think critically.
TST Framework * OVM *
Material-Spiritual Framework
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Critical Thinking Articles and FAQs !
By Mike Prestwood
Critical Thinking
How to think straight in a chaotic world.
Take the deep dive series.
Critical thinking is the philosophy of how to think. It is, hands down, the most important field in both philosophy and life. One of the few things you actually have control over in life is the process of allowing information into your mind. Whether you realize it or not, you already have a process in place. You routinely accept some things as true and reject others. The lens of critical thinking allows you to view evidence with clarity, question assumptions with authority, and ultimately shape your own robust, insightful, and wise worldview.
What is the difference between a true believer, an empiricist, and a true skeptic?
Viewpoint < OVM < Five Thought Tools < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
What is a straw man fallacy and how can I avoid it?
Logical Fallacies < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking: Is someone bad if they work for big oil or big tobacco?
Guilt by Association < Logical Fallacies < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Terrence Howard: Debunking Terryology
Exploring Howard's mathematical flaws.
Is Terrance Howard correct when he says zero does not exist?
Philosophy of Science < Truth Hammers < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking: Why is “inductive” reasoning not as reliable as deductive?
Inductive < Reasoning < Five Thought Tools < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking: Are personal spiritual experiences believable?
Belief & falsifiability < Idea of Ideas < Critical Thinking
Is the Rip-Bang theory a good theory?
Is the Rip-Bang worthy? No, at least not without framing it alongside ideas like the belief in ghosts. Let’s use this idea to explore the ...
Speculative Ideas in Science: Rip-Bang, Bigfoot, and Beyond
Introduction to the Idea Theory Framework.
Critical Thinking: Did Einstein’s driver really give one of his early talks?
Idea of Ideas < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Thinking: How does social media fuel the “grass is always greener” problem?
Comparative Illusion < Cognitive Bias < Four Mind Traps < Critical Thinking
Idea Evaluation: The Scholarly Review Process
Question. Evaluate. Enlighten.
Read the deep dive series.
By Mike Prestwood
Critical Thinking Framework Overview
Overview and misc. material.
The philosophy of how to think is about the process of letting new information into your mind, and is one of the few things you actually have control over.
Overview Articles
The Five Thought Tools: Viewpoint, Social Constructs, Inquiry, Reasoning, and Review
Five Thought Tools < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
TST Framework
A critical thinking toolkit.
The Four Mind Traps: Logical Fallacies, Cognitive Biases, Heuristics, and Stereotypes
The Four Mind Traps < TST Framework
Read the deep dive series.
Self Examination = Clear Thinking
Five Thought Tools
Gather, frame, and communicate accurate information.
OVM * Idea of Ideas * Reasoning * Social Constructs * Idea Evaluation
- All
- IdeaEvaluation
- IdeaOfIdeas
- OVM
- Reasoning
What is the difference between a true believer, an empiricist, and a true skeptic?
Viewpoint < OVM < Five Thought Tools < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Is Terrance Howard correct when he says 1×1=2?
Object Oriented Nature < The Idea of Ideas < Philosophy of Mind < Philosophy
Terrence Howard: Debunking Terryology
Exploring Howard's mathematical flaws.
Is Terrance Howard correct when he says zero does not exist?
Philosophy of Science < Truth Hammers < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking: Why is “inductive” reasoning not as reliable as deductive?
Inductive < Reasoning < Five Thought Tools < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking: Did Einstein’s driver really give one of his early talks?
Idea of Ideas < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Idea Evaluation: The Scholarly Review Process
Question. Evaluate. Enlighten.
What are inductive and abductive reasoning?
Reasoning < Five Thought Tools < TST Framework
Who was William of Ockham, and what principle is named after him?
Occam's Razor < Idea Evaluation < Five Thought Tools < TST Framework
What is a slippery slope argument and why is it bad?
Slippery Slope < Logical Fallacies < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework
Is Occam’s Razor always right?
Occam's Razor < Idea Evaluation < Five Thought Tools < TST Framework
Occam’s Razor: Simplifying Complexity
Learn when to embrace the simple ideas.
Read the deep dive series.
Avoid bad thinking!
Four Mind Traps
Mental pitfalls that impede your thinking.
Fallacies, Biases, Heuristics, and Stereotypes
- All
- CognitiveBiases
- LogicalFallacies
- Stereotypes
What is a straw man fallacy and how can I avoid it?
Logical Fallacies < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking: Is someone bad if they work for big oil or big tobacco?
Guilt by Association < Logical Fallacies < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Thinking: How does social media fuel the “grass is always greener” problem?
Comparative Illusion < Cognitive Bias < Four Mind Traps < Critical Thinking
Does the absence of evidence prove anything?
God of the Gaps < Logical Fallacies < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Thinking: Why we only remember the good parts of vacations and forget the bad?
Rosy Retrospection < Cognitive Biases < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework
Ad hominem: Is it fair to judge a colleague based on how they dress?
Ad Hominem < Logical Fallacies < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework
What is a false choice?
False Choice < Logical Fallacies < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework
Were neanderthals artistic?
Were the Neanderthals, the original artists? If so, how does that impact the soul debate.
An Overview of Reason and Logic
Understand the interplay between reason and logic.
Neanderthal Clue: Reassessing Intelligence Beyond Human Bias
A fresh new look at our cousins.
Does the border problem contribute to higher crime rates?
What is the actual influence of immigration on crime? The answer just might enlighten and surprise you. This 1-minute read focuses on bipartisan government policy. ...
Why do we rely on authority figures for information?
Appeal to Authority < Logical Fallacies < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework
Read the deep dive series.
About Science * Law * Journalism
Three Truth Hammers
How to use societal good authorities to save time and energy.
While not perfect, they are exceptionally helpful when used well.
Exploring Empirical Belief
Philosophy of Science
Uncovering how we shape our understanding of the world.
In the evolution of the scientific method, Thales was scientific, Aristotle added intense observation, and Alhazen added rigor to the observations and experiments. Later, specific tools like deduction, induction, and falsifiability crafted the modern scientific method.
Note: Visit the Science topic to explore scientific results and their philosophical implications.
Terrence Howard: Debunking Terryology
Exploring Howard's mathematical flaws.
Is Terrance Howard correct when he says zero does not exist?
Philosophy of Science < Truth Hammers < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Is the Rip-Bang theory a good theory?
Is the Rip-Bang worthy? No, at least not without framing it alongside ideas like the belief in ghosts. Let’s use this idea to explore the ...
Speculative Ideas in Science: Rip-Bang, Bigfoot, and Beyond
Introduction to the Idea Theory Framework.
The Anti-Vaxxer Movement and the Scientific Method
About 10% of Americans believe vaccines cause autism. That’s about 33 million Americans. In a country where we believe so many easily proven wrong conspiracies ...
The Three Truth Hammers: Science, Journalism, and Law
Science, journalism, and law are quests to define reality, truth hammers. They represent the best estimate of truth based on current evidence.
How to act in a group.
Philosophy of Law
Law * Government * Politics * Roles
In philosophy, justice delves into personal morality, group ethics, and social order. The scales of justice, symbolizing the age-old dance between personal morality, group ethics, and equity, ensuring that everyone gets their due.
Collective Dialogue
Philosophy of Journalism
Journalism, the third truth hammer to living a modern enlightened life.
Through science, humanity uncovers the natural world. The law establishes rules and enforces fairness using things like criminal and civil trials, arbitration, and mediation. Journalism, the Fourth Estate, informs the public through reporting, journalism, and opinion articles.
