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Critical Thinking and Argumentation

Course developer

Course abstract

The study course acquires knowledge of the main tools and techniques of critical thinking and argumentation, as well as skills to listen, go deep, analyze information, form dialogue, argue and persuade, in general, forming independent, rational, recursive and disciplined thinking.
The study course acquires knowledge of the situation in the space of post-truth information and mass communication, such as fake news and conspiracy theories, their causes and the nature of incorrect argumentation and controversy.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge: in the study course students acquire in-depth knowledge of critical thinking and argumentation; knowledge of the situation of the post-truth era in the information space, argumentation and controversy. Assessment – two tests.
Skills: Critical thinking, argumentation, philosophical reflection, refutation, questioning, fact analysis, critical reading, discourse analysis, context awareness, articulation of implicit assumptions, learning, listening, understanding, immersion, self and other comprehension skills; as well as the ability to learn, acquire new knowledge and use it in developing a holistic approach.
Assessment – individual works, group work, lecture attendance.
Competences: by completing the course students increase their thinking culture and mental discipline, and are able to start using the most important techniques of critical thinking, argumentation, logic, rhetoric, awareness, information and fact analysis, refutation of false information and incorrect argumentation, as well as learning to create alternative stories.
Assessment - two reflections and their presentation.

Course Content(Calendar)

Lectures
1. Critical thinking and argumentation in the post-truth era. (1 hour)
2. Essence of philosophical thinking, its possibilities. Awareness. (1 hour)
3. Criteria and benchmarks of knowledge truthfulness. (1 hour)
4. The question of the limits of human cognitive ability. Objectivity and subjectivity. (1 hour)
5. Consciousness filters. Communication barriers. (1 hour)
6. Self-knowledge and self-determination in the rhetorical process. Psychic defense mechanisms. (1 hour)
7. Formal logic. Concepts. Sophism. (1 hour)
8. Formal logic. Judgment. Basic laws of logic. (1 hour)
9. Formal logic. Conclusion. Premises and conclusions. (1 hour)
10. Unfair methods of argumentation. Argumentation fallacies (1 hour)
11. Unfair methods of argumentation. Solution options. (1 hour)
12. Reasons for a reliable and unreliable message. (1 hour)
13. The unspoken what included in message. Explicit and implicit. (1 hour)
14. Critical and philosophical analysis. (1 hour)
15. Discussion ethics, different. Prerequisites for dialogue. Alternative story. (2 hours)
Seminars
1. Group work: Signs of post-truth (fake news and conspiracy theories) (1 hour)
2. Group work: Asking questions (Why? Etc.) and questioning in search of justification (1 hour)
3. Independent work: Consciousness filters and communication barriers. (1 hour)
4. Independent work: Self-knowledge. Psychic defense mechanisms. (2 hours)
5. Group work: Evaluation of the correctness of judgments. Basic laws of logic. (1 hour)
6. Independent work: Conclusion. Argumentation fallacies. (1 hour)
7. Test. Logics and critical thinking. (1 hour)
8. Presentation of the results of independent work. Conclusion. Argumentation fallacies. (1 hour)
9. Independent work: Analysis of the implicit content included in the message. (1 hour)
10. Independent work: Elements of critical analysis. (1 hour)
11. Group work: Critical reading of texts (messages). (1 hour)
12. Test. Argumentation, controversy and persuasion. (1 hour)
13. Independent work: Analysis of the differences between scientific and popular text. (1 hour)
14. Presentation of independent work. Counter-argumentation and creation of an alternative story. (2 hours)

Requirements for awarding credit points

The cumulative assessment in the 10-point system consists of: individual works and discussions, group work - 35%, Development of independent works - 30%, presentation of independent works - 15%, two tests - 20%.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

During the studies the student develops and presents two works in seminars:
1. Argumentation errors (fallacies).
2. Counter-argumentation and creation of an alternative story.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Independent work is assessed according to the quality requirements of compliance with the task.
Discussions are judged by engagement, ability to reasonably argue and discuss issues related to study topics.
Main focus in assessment of independent works and discussion tasks – development of individual critical thinking, argumentation and elements of independent thinking.

Compulsory reading

1. Dwyer C. Critical thinking: Conceptual perspectives and practical guidelines. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 2017.
2. Rubene Z. Kritiskā domāšana studiju procesā. Rīga: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2008. 223 lpp.
3. Vedins I. Loģika. Rīga: Avots, 2000. 519 lpp.

Further reading

1. Kakutani M. The Death of Truth. Notes on falsehood in the age of trump. Tim Duggan Books, 2019. 208 p.
2. Kraģis I. Radošums un kritiskā domāšana. Rīga: Mansards, 2019. 109 lpp.
3. Schwarz N., Newman E., Leach W. Making The Truth Stick and The Myths Fade: Lessons from Cognitive Psychology [tiešsaiste] [skatīts 25.03.2021/ Pieejams: http://bit.ly/Making-The-Truth-Stick

Periodicals and other sources

1. Critical Thinking [tiešsaiste] [skatīts 25.03.2021.]. Pieejams: https://teaching.uwo.ca/teaching/learning/critical-thinking.html
2. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (IEP): Fallacies [tiešsaiste] [skatīts 25.03.2021.]. Pieejams: https://iep.utm.edu/fallacy/
3. Rīgas laiks. www.rigaslaiks.lv

Notes

For Faculty of Economics and Social Development academic bachelor study program “Economics”