Improving Your Thinking

Get a philosophy instructor’s take on how to think critically, make more informed decisions, and communicate more effectively.

Introduction

• Why does thinking matter?
• Thinking with others

1. The Attitude

• Cultivating intellectual humility
• Taking your time

2. Things to Do

• Making distinctions
• Making more distinctions
• Only the best argument
• Assessing your sources
• Using generalizations carefully
• Considering other worlds

3. Things to Avoid

• Not defining your terms
• Resisting the strawman
• Infamous ad hominem
• Question-begging

4. On Context

• Two key questions
• What's up with truth?
• When thinking isn't the right tool

Conclusion

• Where to go from here