Week 1

Question 1

What is truth?

Answer 1

“Truth is the proper description of reality as perceived by God.” - R.C. Sproul

Question 2

What are the 3 levels of philosophy?

Answer 2

LEVEL 3: “Kitchen Table Conclusions”, Prescription, Application
LEVEL 2: Imagination and Feeling, Experience, Illustration
LEVEL 1: Foundation of Logic and Reason, Truth, Argumentation

Question 3

What are 3 factors for a good argument?

Answer 3

1) Terms must be unambiguous (not open to more than 1 interpretation)
2) Premises must be factual/true
3) Argument must be logical

Question 4

What is the truth test?

Answer 4

1) Coherence ( Logical Consistency )
2) Correspondence ( Empirical Adequacy )
3) Experiential Relevance

Question 5

What are the 4 foundations for a worldview?

Answer 5

Relationships, Beliefs, Thinking, and Actions

Question 6

What is Critical Thinking? What are the 3 things it refers to?

Answer 6

Reacting with systematic evaluation of what you hear and read.
1) Awareness of a set of interrelated questions
2) Ability to ask and answer questions at appropriate times
3) Desire to actively use the critical questions

Question 7

List the Critical Thinking Questions (10)

Answer 7

1. What are the issues and conclusions?
2. What are the reasons?
3. What words or phrases are ambiguous?
4. What are the unspoken assumptions?
5. How good is the evidence?
6. Are there any fallacies in the reasoning?
7. Are the statistics deceptive?
8. Are there rival causes?
9. What significant information is omitted?
10. What alternate conclusions are reasonably possible?

Question 8

What are the logical fallacies? (12)

Answer 8

Hasty Generalization, Red Herring, Slipper Slope, Genetic Fallacy, Circular Argument, Ad Populum, Straw Man, Moral Equivalence, Either/Or, Begging The Claim, Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc, As Hominem

Question 9

What is Coherence, Correspondence, Experiential Relevance? (Truth Test)

Answer 9

Coherence: Asks the question, “Is it logically consistent?”

Correspondence: Asks the question “Does it correspond to reality?” Empirical Adequacy: it will have factual support. It will deny that which is known to be factually false. It will aim to encompass all of reality.

Experiential Relevance: Asks the question, “Is it livable?”

Question 10

What does each letter of RED stand for?

Answer 10

R - Recognize Assumptions
E - Evaluate Arguments
D - Draw Conclusions