批判與創意思考

Google Meet link: http://meet.google.com/vxv-opox-wee Google Classroom code: pl4btjk Have you ever met someone you thought was really smart? What qualities did they have that made them special? Perhaps they could express themselves clearly, or recognize bias in themselves and others. Perhaps they were hard to deceive, or they could always see the deeper issues, analyze evidence and arguments, and easily figure things out for themselves. All of these abilities are abilities to think critically and creatively. Studies show that critical and creative thinking is what employers expect from people with a university education, and for good reason: it is useful in every domain and discipline. Critical thinkers are also better citizens, as they can understand and argue for evidence-based political positions. Critical thinking is more useful now than ever, given the increased availability of information online. All that information can be dangerous, if you don’t know how to process it, that is, if you don’t know what conclusions you can, should, and should not draw from it. Critical and creative thinkers also tend to be happier people, because they have less uncertainty about what to believe, and what to do. They can solve problems more efficiently, easily avoid future problems, and communicate better with family, friends, employers, and teachers. This course will be useful to you, not just because it will teach you how to think critically, but because it will help you to practice the skills involved in critical thinking, making them part of who you are. First, we introduce you to deductive, inductive, and analogical arguments. Then we discuss how to identify and avoid many of the most common fallacies that cloud human reasoning. In addition to learning how to analyze arguments and avoid cognitive biases, you will learn how to be more imaginative and creative and how to use various technologies to enhance your critical and creative thinking.

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Lecture videos: Each week, students will watch lecture videos recorded by the instructors, which are available on YouTube. Students must watch these videos before attending the weekly discussion session. Weekly exercises: Each week, after watching the lecture videos, students will complete exercises regarding that week’s material. Students must submit these exercises (either on Google Forms or Google Classroom) before attending the weekly discussion session. Weekly discussion sessions: Each week, students will meet with the instructor of the course on Google Meet during the designated class time to discuss that week’s material. Critical Thinking Web, maintained by Joe Lau, Philosophy Department, University of Hong Kong. http://philosophy.hku.hk/think/

Assignment 20% In order to receive full credit, students must submit their weekly exercises (either on Google Forms or Google Classroom) before the weekly discussion session each week. Mid-term Exam 30% The exam will take the form of a project, which will be announced at least two weeks before the due date. Final Exam 30% The exam will take the form of a project, which will be announced at least two weeks before the due date. Discussion 20% In order to receive full credit, students must attend and participate in weekly discussion sessions.

1. Textbook List: Critical Thinking Web, maintained by Joe Lau, Philosophy Department, University of Hong Kong. http://philosophy.hku.hk/think/ Excerpts from Foresman, G. A., Fosl, P. S., & Watson, J. C. (2016). The Critical Thinking Toolkit. Wiley-Blackwell. Excerpts from Bowell, T., Cowan, R., & Kemp, G. (2020). Critical Thinking: A Concise Guide. 5th edition. Routledge. Excerpts from Sawyer, K. (2013). Zig Zag: The Surprising Path to Greater Creativity. Jossey-Bass. Excerpts from Ashton, K. (2015). How to Fly a Horse: The Secret History of Creation, Invention, and Discovery. Doubleday. 2. Bibliography for self-made lecture notes or textbooks: Handouts on analogical arguments, plagiarism, argument mapping, and thinking and technology 3. Lecture videos recorded by the instructors, available on YouTube

地點

Online

時間

By appointment

聯絡方式

linyingtung@nycu.edu.tw jhricko@nycu.edu.tw