Tools
Highlights of:
Part A - Chapters 1 to 3
1. THINKING WELL
Logic and reasoning along with a general awareness toward thinking better is clearly useful for both communication and making life decisions in general. Although most people consider their thinking skills as being above average, it is advised to at least skim these first three chapters. Most of us can use a refresher.
The three foundational topics of Openness, Reductionism and Greyness are covered here, hopefully leading to improved techniques for considering problems.
Openness:
Issues of openness and skepticism.
Relating pridefulness with openness.
Balancing between simple and complexity.
Recognizing agenda within science or religion.
Understanding the issue of "Courage of Conviction".
The dangers of both, excess tolerance and intolerance.
Reductionism:
Dangers of excess holistic thinking.
When to consider a more holistic approach.
Importance of examining the root causes to problems.
Greyness:
How relativity emerges in problems.
The greying continuum from opinion to facts.
Why thinking in black and white seems so natural.
Differences between existential and valuative problems.
2. REASONING
Basic argumentation and core methods of reasoning are reviewed including the usual two of deduction and induction, along with four other important ones to be aware of.
The blurring between deduction and induction is carefully noted in particular — with probability emphasized as too commonly being the “missing premise”.
This is a good overall review of the issues between the practical and the rigorous, and for where various dangers can unconsciously occur (see "Poets and Mathematicians").
Deduction:
Practical vs. rigorous proofs and knowledge.
Salvaging deductive argumentation.
Induction:
The value of increasing knowledge via probability.
Qualifiers — their use, dangers and annoyances.
Poets and mathematicians.
Scientific Method:
Hypothesis, prediction, experiment, evaluation, etc.
Where and why holistic pseudoscience emerges.
Other:
Counterarguments and contradictions.
Argumentation and the basic R.T.S. standards.
The Scientific Method related to Commonsense.
Emotions, aphorisms, references, classifications, etc.
Storytelling via sequence and emotional appeal.
Salvaging faulty deductive argumentation.
Relating proofs, beliefs and one's actions.
Paul Graham's Levels of Argumentation.
"Scam Avoidance Alert" listing.
3. FALLACIES
This is essentially about shortcut methodology that identifies problem argumentation. These are conveniently categorized into only four "DISE" sections that are easily memorized — Deductive, Inductive, Source and Emotional.
Everyday life tends to unconsciously apply fallacies as opposed to using the direct methodology of deduction and induction for logic. Without a simple categorized method of recall, fallacies can tend to be rather difficult to remember.
The Strawman is featured for the first one, being that it often covers all four categories. Be on guard for misrepresentations whenever you hear something like, "So you are saying _____". Do not let people put words in your mouth.
Short but relevant illustrations of each fallacy are given.
Deductive:
Analogy (False analogy)
Bifurcation (False dichotomy or Binary thinking)
Cause or Correlation (Post hoc reasoning)
. . .
Inductive:
Ad Hoc Rescue (Flimsy evidences and No true Scotsman)
Anecdotal Evidence (Hasty or biased generalizing)
Confirmation Bias
. . .
Source:
Ad Hominem (Genetic or association fallacy)
Authority (Anonymous or Bogus)
History (Tradition or Culture)
. . .
Emotional:
Fear (Force and Bullying)
Happy (Hopeful or Wishful thinking)
Naturalist Fallacy
. . .