How do slippery slope arguments manipulate people?
September 28, 2024
Critical Thinking
Don't just believe, think critically.
TST Framework * OVM *
Material-Spiritual Framework
Critical Thinking Articles and Hot Topics!
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.
How do we know bloodletting doesn’t work?
Logical Fallacies < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
How do slippery slope arguments manipulate people?
Logical Fallacies < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
How do I know what is true and what is just an opinion?
Reasoning < Five Thought Tools < TST Framework
The Material World Split
Five Thought Tools < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Why are invalid fear-based arguments so effective?
Logical Fallacies < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Why do people believe wrong things?
Cognitive Biases < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Can a fat, out of shape person give valid nutritional advice?
Logical Fallacies < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Is anecdotal evidence ever useful to prove something?
Idea Evaluation < Five Thought Tools < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Did most humans live in caves 30,000 years ago?
Cognitive Biases < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
If evolution is true, why haven’t humans evolved in 50,000 years?
Logical Fallacies < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Holistic Paleolithic Framework: A New Look at Prehistory
A new look at dividing up the paleolithic era.
Is the idea of ownership a real thing?
Social Constructs < Five Thought Tools < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
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
How do we know bloodletting doesn’t work?
Logical Fallacies < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
How do slippery slope arguments manipulate people?
Logical Fallacies < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
How do I know what is true and what is just an opinion?
Reasoning < Five Thought Tools < TST Framework
The Material World Split
Five Thought Tools < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Is anecdotal evidence ever useful to prove something?
Idea Evaluation < Five Thought Tools < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Is the Big Bang singularity scientific or philosophical?
Metaphysics < Philosophy
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
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
Why are invalid fear-based arguments so effective?
Logical Fallacies < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Why do people believe wrong things?
Cognitive Biases < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Can a fat, out of shape person give valid nutritional advice?
Logical Fallacies < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Did most humans live in caves 30,000 years ago?
Cognitive Biases < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
If evolution is true, why haven’t humans evolved in 50,000 years?
Logical Fallacies < Four Mind Traps < 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?
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?
Cognitive Biases < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Ad hominem: Is it fair to judge a colleague based on how they dress?
Logical Fallacies < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
What is a false choice?
Logical Fallacies < Four Mind Traps < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
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.
Holistic Paleolithic Framework: A New Look at Prehistory
A new look at dividing up the paleolithic era.
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?
Philosophy of Science < Truth Hammers < Critical Thinking
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
Truth Hammers < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
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.
