Tools

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.

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

• . . .