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1. This week, we studied reason defined as "the power to think in such a way that we proceed from what we kno to what we do not yet know."(FRR, 58) This involves how the mind gathers and percieves information, basically, how the mind works. We gained a greater understanding of how the mind works by learning about philosophy and theology, the three kinds of knowledge, the five common thinking errors, the fove steps to critical thinking, and the process of reasoning. Defined in the book, theology is "the explanation and examination of one's faith using reason."(FRR 46) St. Augustine defined theology as "faith seeking understanding."(FRR 46) Epistemology is the study of knowledge itself, a very broad subject. Philosophy is the study of life's more complex questions like "what is the meaning to life?" The the three forms of knowledge are knowledge from experience, knowledge from authorities, and knowledge obtained from reasoning. The five common thinking errors are non-sequitors,in which the reasoning does not follow, false or vague premises which are self explined, Ad hominem, in which the person in an argument attacks the other person directly, disregarding the issue at hand. Begging the question is when a person argues that a certain point is true but already assumes its true in the process, and Red Herrings where the person says somethin inflammatory to distract from the matter at hand. The five steps to critical thinking are Know the Facts, Remember the Principle of Contradiction, Define your terms, Be intellectually humble, and look for different perspectives. Lastly, the book explains the Process of knowing which consists of Percieving, taking data from the five senses, Categorizing, Evaluating, Symbolizing, and Testing.
2. Three Things I want to Remember
a. The Five Common Thinking Errors, Non Sequitor, False or Vague premises, Ad Hominem, Begging the Question, and Red Herring, all of which have been explained above.
b. The Two endowments that make us human.
The two natural abilities that make us human and separate us from animals are Self-Consciousness and Abstract Thought. Self-Consciousness means that a creature is aware of itself as an individually existing being, at once both by itself, and with the world around it. Abstract thought is the ability to think of something if it exists by itself, with nothing around it.
c. Epistemology, the study of knowledge itself. Epistemology deasls with the most simple, yet most intriguing questions such as, "is it possible to know the truth?"
4.One question i want to keep with myself is "what does it mean to be human?"
5. I could try to be a better person by realizing when I am making one of the fove common thinking errors. Already I have noticed several instances of Ad hominem in my arguements. |
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