Useful links
Unit of study_
PHIL2642: Critical Thinking
An introduction to critical thinking and analysis of argument. By examining arguments drawn from diverse sources, including journalism, advertising, science, medicine, history, economics and politics, we will learn how to distinguish good from bad arguments, and how to construct rationally persuasive arguments of our own. Along the way we will grapple with scepticism, conspiracy theories and pseudoscience. The reasoning skills imparted by this unit make it invaluable not only for philosophy students but for every student at the University.
| Code | PHIL2642 |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Philosophy |
| Credit points | 6 |
|
Prerequisites:
?
|
12 credit points at 1000 level |
|---|---|
|
Corequisites:
?
|
None |
| Prohibitions:
?
|
None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. understand the differences between various forms of argument, including deduction, induction, causal arguments, scientific arguments and probabilistic arguments
- LO2. assess the strengths and weaknesses of arguments of these various forms
- LO3. detect deductive validity and soundness
- LO4. detect and label a broad range of common fallacies
- LO5. develop stronger arguments, and to revise and/or defend those arguments in the face of criticism
- LO6. analyse examples from a broad range of sources including journalism, advertising, economics and politics, students will learn how to identify and interpret arguments in many forms of text
- LO7. analyse, evaluate and construct arguments
- LO8. solve practical problems and resolve real-life disputes by reasoning clearly
- LO9. structure and present ideas and arguments clearly and logically, both orally (in tutorial discussions) and in writing (in assessment tasks)
- LO10. expand their creative thinking skills through constructing new criticisms, and new defences, of a varied range of arguments.
Unit outlines
Unit outlines will be available 1 week before the first day of teaching for the relevant session.
There are no unit outlines available online for the current year.
- Key dates
Key dates through the academic year, including teaching periods, census, payment deadlines and exams.
- Student administration
Enrolment, course planning, fees, graduation, support services, student IT
- Expectations of student conduct
Code of Conduct for Students, Conditions of Enrollment, University Privacy Statement, Academic Integrity
- Academic appeals
Academic appeals process, special consideration, rules and guidelines, advice and support
- Learning and teaching policy
Policy register, policy search
- Financial support
Scholarships, interest free loans, bursaries, money management
- Study resources
Learning Centre, faculty and school programs, Library, online resources
- Health and support
Student Centre, counselling & psychological services, University Health Service, general health and wellbeing
