Hello everyone, this week’s topic of discussion is critical
thinking. When the term critical thinking comes up I don’t automatically think
about my major in college, but a problem that has to be solved. But isn’t that
what being an Interdisciplinary Studies major is all about? We have the
opportunity to create a major that will give us the flexibility to define
specifically what we want to do. As cornerstone students you have probably
thought long and hard about what this degree looks like for you and how you are
going to use it to solve problems, but here is some food for thought…how will
you incorporate philosophy and ethics into your degree?
Below is a link to a tool for you to discover just that, it’s
called the virtual philosopher. So take a few minutes to go through the
activity. Then answer the following question in 2-3 sentences each. Don’t
forget to reply to other students as well.
Virtual Philosopher:
·
Be sure to note, at the end of the activity,
whether or not your answers were consistent or inconsistent.
Questions:
1.
How does your critical thinking relate to being
interdisciplinary?
2.
Comment on how the Virtual Philosopher scored
your response. From the comments you received about your responses, what
insight have you gained about your own critical thinking and reasoning?
3.
How does the outline of your critical thinking
disposition match with the application of it in doing the Virtual Philosopher?
4.
Speaking of philosophers, the following is a
quote by a philosopher about another philosopher:
“Aristotle was asked how much
educated men are superior to uneducated: “As much,” he said, “as the living are
to the dead”.- Diognes
Do you agree with what Aristotle
said? Do you disagree? Explain your position.
Critical thinking can help us think beyond the obvious answer to a dilemma. Critical thinking can help us make connections between ideas, which is a concept that very well fits into interdisciplinary studies. But ultimately, critical thinking is a very individual view as it depends much on the individual’s beliefs and values.
ReplyDeleteI had 2 inconsistent on the Virtual Philosopher; Situation 1: A Friend’s Dilemma and Situation 2: The Lifeboat Problem.
First, for the Friend’s Dilemma it said that while I admitted that lying is sometimes justifiable I wouldn’t tell a little “white lie” to spare my friend some tears. In this case I believe it is all in the way I tell my friend the truth, with tact, and if I am a good friend I don’t see the point in lying to a good friend; I would not want it if it were the other way around.
Second, The Lifeboat Problem goes with me admitting that murder is always wrong, but whether I let the 400 lbs man stay on the boat or push him off someone is going to die. It is all a matter of 1 or all 11. So by not pushing the 400 lbs man off I would still be committing murder.
“Aristotle was asked how much educated men are superior to uneducated: “As much,” he said, “as the living are to the dead”.- Diognes
To me this means that education is what gives you life. It is what separates you and makes you stand above the rest. In essence, Aristotle very bluntly said that without education you might as well be dead.
~Sara Lopez
Thanks for responding so quickly, Sara. I agree with your rationalizations and your point of view or interpretation of those situations as well as the Aristotle quote. Critical thinking is a great tool that can be applied to any discipline or industry.
Delete@Sara
DeleteHey Sara. When I did the above activity in the past, I had a really hard time figuring out what I would do in those types of situations. I don't know if I agree that it's exactly critical thinking or more of solving ethical dilemas. Either way, I don't think situations like that can really be SOLVED. It's a lose lose situation. I hope that I would never be confronted with an event that lead myself or others with me to take on the role of playing God, determining who lives and who dies.
I really liked your response about Aristotle. Education does give individuals an opportunity to live, and to live with an open mind and accepting of other views. Unfortunately, not everyone takes their education seriously. So, as is with everything in life, you will only get out of it what you put in to it. I know so many students that go through college and above and never learn anything. What a shame. TTYL. :-)
@ Melissa
DeleteI couldnt agree more some of the "situations" they confronted you with could never really be solved. Especially with the boat and transplant example... how can you take place and act as "GOD" and decided who dies and who lives. I would never be able to make such decisions!
@ Sarah-
DeleteLifeboat Problem- No one likes to be at the point to make these types of costly, life changing experiences, which why I thank God for our U.s. Military system. Everyday they are face with making these sort of decisions for our country. With that said at the end of the day every human life is important and if you know you did everything possible to preserve that without a reasonable doubt, then I believe that's what counts at the end of the day.
I would have to say that critical thinking absolutely relates with being interdisciplinary. Being interdisciplinary students we have the benefit of learning different disciplines thus being able to look at a problem/situation and provide solutions/insight from different perspectives.
ReplyDeleteThe Virtual Philosopher found me inconsistent on Situation 1: A Friend’s Dilemma. It gave me an inconsistency because I agreed it was okay to lie depending on the situation and also answered that I WOULD tell a friend if they were odd. Though I do believe in a little “white lie” I also am an honest friend. I get the whole sparing their feelings but at the same time that wouldn’t make you a “true” friend at least in my book.
While going through the Virtual Philosopher I definitely used my critical thinking. I looked at each situation from different perspectives but at the end I provided the answer that I would be able to live with for the rest of my life.
In regards to the quote, I believe he meant that without education you are basically nothing. Do I agree? Well not completely. Yes, with education you have the advantage to create endless possibilities but I also believe that experience is just as important.
I agree that it is okay to lie sometimes. It may not be "right" but it isn't wrong. If someone says "does this make me look fat?" and you say "Yes" because it does make them look fat, and then they go jump off a bridge, it was the wrong decisions to tell the truth and you would have been better of lying. There are just so many aspects that go into being a "good person" The virtual philosopher made me glad I'm not in charge. I don't think I could make those tough decisions.
DeleteI just realized I did not explain if I agree or disagree with the quote. Like you, I don't completely agree. I believe every person can be a positive, contributing part of society even if not educated. I also think life experiences can educate just as much as formal education and has its own applications for specific situations.
Delete~Sara Lopez
@ Grant
DeleteThere are so many aspects of being a "good" person so that is why I just stick to the saying "do onto others what you want done" something like that lol
- Zenya Moreira
@ Grant
DeleteThere are so many aspects of being a "good" person so that is why I just stick to the saying "do onto others what you want done" something like that lol
- Zenya Moreira
I like your argument for not agreeing with Aristotle's quote. I know it sounds really messed up to say, but SOMEONE has to hand me my food through the drive thru window at McDonald's. Not to say they're not intelligent people, but you catch my drift. Everyone has a place in this world. We can't all be a bunch of intellectual hippies roaming around in a field of flowers rambling off facts and spouting figurative language!
DeleteThis is broken into three post, because that is what Mrs.J said to do...
ReplyDelete1.How does your critical thinking relate to being interdisciplinary?
My critical thinking relates to being interdisciplinary because it comes from a diverse perspective. I look at things from all different angles and am open to different ideas. My different views all come together to make one basic outcome, to make “my” point of view. Interdisciplinary is a culmination of different ideas to form one basic outcome.
Absolutely. Not to mention, thinking critically doesn't involve simple yes or no answers. You definitely have to think outside the box, or rather, think outside the basics of your disciplines in order to combine your ideas into one solution. I liked the way you explained the multiple points of view being coming into "your" point of view -- very witty ;-)
Delete2. Comment on how the Virtual Philosopher scored your response. From the comments you received about your responses, what insight have you gained about your own critical thinking and reasoning?
ReplyDeleteVirtual Philosopher score me as inconsistence on the first two scenarios and yet consistent on the last. I’m not sure if this would be the best version of a philosophical response to my scenarios since I have no chance of questioning back, using the Socratic Method. If you think about it, my first scenario does not allow justification. “lying is sometimes justifiable” just because I believe it is justifiable, does that mean I have to do it all the time? Whether or not it is to spare my friend’s feels? I believe my friends are strong enough and deserve the truth, because if I don’t give it to them, who will? Let alone, my friend’s expect the truth from me, so that they can build from it instead of continuing in a circle. The second scenario covered killing the 400lb man so as to save the other 10 people…I said killing a innocent person is always wrong, but was placed as inconsistence because I choose to kill the 400lb man. It doesn’t mean I believe it isn’t wrong. I still would believe it is wrong but in a dire situation I would want to save as many as possible and with logic playing that he would kill us all I would in turn kill him while still believing it is wrong to be doing. I don’t feel I’ve gain much more insight then I feel I already new about my own critical thinking and reasoning.
3. How does the outline of your critical thinking disposition match with the application of it in doing the Virtual Philosopher?
I’m sorry I’m confused by the question, or it’s wording??? What critical thinking disposition? Is that question #1? If so, the way I critically think was a little hard to relate to the virtual philosopher since I believe it is flawed with its lack of ability to question and justify using Socratic Method.
I selected that killing is always wrong. then, I selected killing the 400 pound man to save 10 other people. So, clearly my thinking isn't always consistent because, in life, you are often asked a question without realizing the implications of your answers. Generally, killing is always wrong, BUT, if you don't kill the 400 pound man, 10 other people are getting killed. So, even though it is wrong, it is even more wrong to let 10 people die because of one.
DeleteHey Joy,
DeleteI would have to agree with you that the Virtual Philosopher's logic about the consistency that a person exercises while making judgments does not really make sense as the situations were not equally comparable. Although the Virtual Philosopher did not explicitly state this, I think that maybe part of the point to the exercise might be that we cannot always use one set of rules when approaching ethical situations. If that was not part of the point to it, I think we all came to that conclusion on our own anyway.
As far as your confusion about number 3, the way I understood it was a comparison of the way you normally approach critical thinking to how you engaged in the process during the activity. In other words, how do you assess problems or make decisions, do you analyze the information and make judgments based on certain criteria, etc... Hope this helps!
I enjoyed reading your post.
Lauren :-)
4. Speaking of philosophers, the following is a quote by a philosopher about another philosopher:
ReplyDelete“Aristotle was asked how much educated men are superior to uneducated: “As much,” he said, “as the living are to the dead”.- Diognes
Do you agree with what Aristotle said? Do you disagree? Explain your position.
I would say I do not know 100% if I can agree or disagree with Aristotle. I agree with him because I value education and believe without educating a society, it cannot move forward and flourish. This is in all terms vague, because education can mean anything from learning to talk, walk, build,etc…not just classical classroom academia…I look at it in a broad spectrum of diverse sides. “as much as the living are to the dead…” Some cultures look at the dead/ancestors as wise and leading us in life so that in turn would be superior to those who are living; while other cultures look at the dead as nothing more then “gone” no longer of active living importance so in essence the living are more superior to the dead. Now which culture is right? I do not doubt either one because there is no final proof as to which, so I accept them both in their own ways, which allows me to be an open minded person.
At first, I automatically agreed with Aristotle, but reading these comments have made me realize how they are other opportunities to get advanced. I haven’t changed my mind all the way about getting educating being very important, but I just know there’s other ways to be educated without going to school like what you mention about cultures. I agree with you that some cultures can be a part of someone’s education. I do believe education is the foundation of how to get higher in life, but at the same time people have to notice the unnoticeable things that can also educate.
DeleteCritical thinking involves weighing the pros and cons of a decision. That relates to interdisciplinary for me because I had to weigh the pros and cons of becoming interdisciplinary studies major. Critical thinking is using multiple disciplines to solve a problem.
ReplyDeleteAll of those questions were very tough. All of those questions involved making hard choices that left severe consequences. No matter which way I answered, anyone could have made justifications for them being wrong or right.
My critical thinking disposition matches well with the virtual test. I was consistent on two out of three of the philosophies. I think decisions can be made based on current life states sometimes and that is part of the reason it is so tough to make the right decision.
Aristotle sounds a bit harsh there but he might be right. It is tough to say whether he is officially right or wrong. I think,for the most part, he is right because educated people can draw from so much more knowledge and history to make a decision. However, there are rare times when uneducated people can be valuable because sometimes we need simple-minded explanations to solve complex problems
I think the Virtual Philosopher was a very interesting activity, but those were some hard questions. I felt I was going to hurt someone mo matter how I answered. I agree with you in that decisions can be made based the current on life states.
Delete~Sara Lopez
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteGrant -Yes having an education is a valuable asset to oneself at the same time this same education can hinder a person if they start to over think a situation thus making it harder then it actually is.
Delete- Zenya Moreira
You couldn't be more right about the Virtual Philosopher, Grant! There is definitely a way to argue either side of the coin for those questions. When it comes down to it, it's difficult to be consistent in your answers because it's difficult to be consistent in LIFE. Sometimes it is ok to tell a white lie. But sometimes it's better to just tell the truth. Everything is situational and varies from person to person (personality, values, morals, beliefs, etc). I mean, a serial killer would probably let EVERYONE die in the question about the boat and who you'd save. That's a pretty drastic example, but you see what I mean. It's still a pretty cool activity to me though; I'm a fan of these sort of "OMG what would you do?" type of things ;-)
DeleteJoy,
DeleteI would have to agree with grant on this one. It is difficult to decide or choose which answer is the correct answer. Sometimes in life you just have to select what works for right now? and which one is the best answer for that particular issue or problem. Critical thinking does not assure you that you are going to select the right answer, but it does help you decided and help you achieve abstract thinking. I believe by doing so this will you to be able to make the wiser selection when it comes to critical thinking.
Critical thinking is important to an interdisciplinary student. It takes views from different perspectives to understand the issue. Critical thinking takes someone to look at ALL the possibilities in the situation (point of view).
ReplyDeleteThe Virtual Philosopher was very interesting. I scored two consistent and one inconsistent. At first, I automatically choose that everyone are all worth saving, but then when the question came about pushing or not pushing the 400 pound man I was a little confused on what to answer. Even though I choose I wouldn’t push him I thought about how many people would die and how I could have helped them if I would have just pushed him. I do agree that everyone is worth saving, but that question made me think. My critical thinking is strong, but at the same time I seemed to change my perception on what I think is the right thing to do.
In my opinion, I matched well with my outcome on the Virtual Philosopher. I answered each question to what I believed was right in the current situation and how I thought it would be most comfortable for the people. Each question that I answered was due to making sure that I was doing the right thing.
To be honest, I do agree with how Aristotle answered that question. Without education how are we supposed to have families or good jobs? Education is the key to gaining knowledge and how to use that knowledge towards something. The living has more of an opportunity to progress their lives than the dead.
Hey Carmen,
DeleteIts seems that the virtual philosopher did one thing that I find to be a good thing about you. That is that you are honest. I am glad you answered the questions truthfully. In life always be honest with your self, so that way you can fix what you don't understand.I also agree with Aristotle claim.We need education because it helps us grow. Knowledge is power!
Have a great day!
Sam
Thank you! If there's one thing my kids know I'm all about is honesty. Without it how are people suppose to know what are true friends or how something is correctly done? I'm glad I took the Virtual Philosopher. It reinforced in me how I can be honest without making others suffer.
DeleteI think the interdisciplinary major requires one to automatically consider how 3 different areas or discipline can benefit off one another in the end result. There has to be deep consideration in this as opposed to someone who strictly focuses on let’s say just Business and Business alone. That person learns to think strictly on the Business track. I am focused in the Marketing (Commerce), Mass Communication (Communication) and Political Science as my minor. With the world today full of complex problem, I wanted to concentrate on areas that were important to me and that I could understand.
ReplyDeleteFrom the comments and responses I received with the Virtual Philosopher I look at things from a pretty rational point of view. 2 out of the 3 I was consistent with. The liver problems and friend dilemma maybe weren’t morally correct to some others but I believe in being one, brutally honest with my friends. With the liver issue I chose the woman with 6 kids to get the transplant since she had more humans, kids for that matter, that would suffer if she didn’t receive it. With the Life boat problem, the 400 lbs. had to go. A person who is unhealthy to the point of being severely obese should not let the rest of the group die. Maybe that’s horrible to say but I believe what is going to benefit the rest of the larger population.
In all honesty I sat here and tried to analyze both situations and cannot seem to connect a parallel to my critical thinking. The way I critically think things with academics is completely different to how I consider issues with friends and family.
“Aristotle was asked how much educated men are superior to uneducated: “As much,” he said, “as the living are to the dead.”- Diognes
This quote can be conflicting. I have met many people who aren’t educated as much as others whether it be by personal choice or other circumstances but were educated in other areas. They made good lives for themselves and their families. Looking at education through strictly a college or higher learning I disagree with this. Experience is the purest form of learning. I have a friend who did not attend college but traveled around the world and networked herself and now has an incredible job. She is so aware of what else this world has to offer. On the other side there are those who do not attend school or reach out to learn in other ways (as my friend did) and sadly they aren’t doing much with their lives. In that regard, this quote I could agree with.
Cayce Connolly
@ Cayce
DeleteI loved reading your post. I also focused in marketing (commerce), communication and have a minor in political science!! I think it's good, that even though you may come off as brutally honest to your friends, that you were justified with and stuck to your answers in the virtual philosopher. So many times I see people close to me who can be swayed one way or another based on what is morally correct or incorrect according to what others think. This will be a strong skill to have going into your career.
It was interesting to read what you thought about Aristotle's quote and I have a question for you; your friend traveled and networked her way around the world and into a good job correct? So even though she didn't attend a formal univeristy or college after high school did she not educate herself? Because to me it seems like she got the best kind of education, the kind you teach yourself. I wish we had the opportunity to do more of that instead of reading books, memorizing material and taking a multiple choice test. This is just me of course though, thinking outside of the box!
Keep up the good work!
Cayce, it is nice knowing that you are being honest referring to the 400 pound man. I have to admit it took me a while before answering that question. I thought of the people who would suffer and the question we had before that which was the one about all people have an equal chance at life. To be honest, I didn’t think about it that way, about the man being unhealthy since he was obese. You see my mind only went to how I couldn’t do that to anyone and how I would feel if I had, but it’s nice knowing it from both sides.
Delete