PSYC 1010 Lecture 28: PSYC 1010 Lecture 28 Notes
17 May 2018
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PSYC 1010 Lecture 28 Notes
Introduction
Critical Thinking
• Historians of science tell us that these three attitudes—curiosity, skepticism, and
humility—helped make modern science possible.
• Some deeply religious people today may view science, including psychological science,
as a threat.
• Yet, many of the leaders of the scientific revolution, including Copernicus and Newton,
were deeply religious people acting on the idea that “in order to love and honor God, it
is necessary to fully appreciate the wonders of his handiwork” (Stark, 2003a,b).
• Of course, scientists, like anyone else, can have big egos and may cling to their
preconceptions.
• Nevertheless, the ideal of curious, skeptical, humble scrutiny of competing ideas unifies
psychologists as a community as they check and recheck one another’s findings and
conclusions.
• The scientific attitude prepares us to think smarter.
• Smart thinking, called critical thinking, examines assumptions, appraises the source,
discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.
• Whether reading online commentary or listening to a conversation, critical thinkers ask
questions
• How do they know that?
• What is this person’s agenda?
• Is the conclusion based on anecdote and gut feelings, or on evidence?
• Does the evidence justify a cause–effect conclusion?
• What alternative explanations are possible?
• Critical thinking, informed by science, helps clear the colored lenses of our biases.
• Consider: Does climate change threaten our future, and, if so, is it human-caused?
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