How IT necessitates critical thinking and how

1. Critical Thinking and Information
Technology
Soraj Hongladarom
Department of Philosophy
Faculty of Arts
Chulalongkorn University
hsoraj@chula.ac.th

2. Outline

What is critical thinking?

Why is critical thinking important?

Basic elements of critical thinking

How to recognize false arguments when you are
online.

3. Critical Thinking

Ability to distinguish between good and bad
arguments.

Good arguments – those that follow the rules of
logic

One should believe only the conclusions of good
arguments.

There are several ways in which arguments can
be bad.

4. Critical Thinking

In the situation where there are many attempts to
persuade people to believe in many things,
critical thinking ability is crucial.

It is very important for a citizen in a democracy
to have critical thinking ability, because citizens
have to deliberate on public issues. Without the
ability they will become prey to irrational
persuasions.

5. Arguments

Premise and conclusion

If it rains, then the road is wet.

It rains.

Therefore, the road is wet.

All arts students love reading.

Samorn is an arts students.

Therefore, Samorn loves reading.

6. Arguments

If it rains, then the road is wet.

The road is wet.

Therefore, it rains.

All arts students love reading.

Somsri loves reading.

Therefore, Somsri is an arts students.

7. Arguments

Good arguments are those whose conclusions
should be believed.

Deductive

Inductive

Deductive: There are algorithmic rules to decide
validity

Inductive: No such rules

Validity: If the premises are all true, then the
conclusion must be true.

8. Fallacies

Bad arguments that people make in order to try to
convince others.

Many forms of fallacies.

Formal

Psychological

One finds many kinds of fallacies in online
discussions.

9. Common Fallacies

Statistical fallacies

Ad hominem

Ad vericundiam

Two wrongs don’t make a right

Red herring (changing the subject)

Ad ignorantiam

Ad populum

10. Filtering Knowledge

One of the most important skills in the online
world is to know how to sift through the glut of
information to search for really valuable pieces.

This is like sifting through a lot of sand to find
gold.

Critical thinking skills become essential.

11. Filtering Knowledge

Contexts or situation of our search becomes
relevant too.

Sources of the website

Wikipedia

Peer-reviewed journals

Online articles

Reputable newspapers