Critical Thinking
Course code
HIK6082.HT
old course code
Course title in Estonian
Kriitiline mõtlemine
Course title in English
Critical Thinking
ECTS credits
6.0
Assessment form
Examination
lecturer of 2025/2026 Spring semester
Liisi Keedus (language of instruction:Estonian)
lecturer of 2026/2027 Autumn semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
Course aims
This course will give students the opportunity to:
1. Develop their analytical and evaluative skills for approaching arguments in different texts and situations.
2. Learn the basic principles of scientific thinking and understand the differences between scientific, everyday and pseudoscientific forms of knowledge.
3. Know and use the basic instruments of logic and rhetorics and understand their role in persuasive argumentation and critical analysis
4. Acquire skills to critically evaluate the content of the media and other public discourse spaces
1. Develop their analytical and evaluative skills for approaching arguments in different texts and situations.
2. Learn the basic principles of scientific thinking and understand the differences between scientific, everyday and pseudoscientific forms of knowledge.
3. Know and use the basic instruments of logic and rhetorics and understand their role in persuasive argumentation and critical analysis
4. Acquire skills to critically evaluate the content of the media and other public discourse spaces
Brief description of the course
Critical Thinking is a course based on examples, exercises and practical tasks providing an introduction to the foundations of critical and scientific thinking, the key tools of reasoning, logic and argumentation, and various methods of critical analysis. Via exercises and examples, students acquire basic skills for distinguishing between knowledge and beliefs, for reasoning, constructing valid arguments, recognizing argumentation errors, wishful thinking, and rhetorical deception. We also seek to understand the social impact of ideologies, the characteristics and dissemination mechanisms of disinformation and conspiracy theories, as well as aim to acquire the basics of digital critical thinking.
Learning outcomes in the course
Upon completing the course the student:
- knows the main principles of critical and scientific thinking and be able to apply them;
- can identify and evaluate the validity of arguments and distinguish typical reasoning errors and fallacies;
- can distinguish scientific knowledge from everyday knowledge and pseudoscience and be able to assess the reliability of sources;
- can write and present argumentative texts using appropriate argumentation and rhetorical techniques;
- can critically analyze social and media texts using appropriate methods.
- knows the main principles of critical and scientific thinking and be able to apply them;
- can identify and evaluate the validity of arguments and distinguish typical reasoning errors and fallacies;
- can distinguish scientific knowledge from everyday knowledge and pseudoscience and be able to assess the reliability of sources;
- can write and present argumentative texts using appropriate argumentation and rhetorical techniques;
- can critically analyze social and media texts using appropriate methods.
Teacher
Liisi Keedus
Study programmes containing that course
Primary School Teacher (KAKLI/26.HR)
Choreography (KUKRB/26.FK )
Primary School Teacher (KAKLI/25.HR)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/26.YK)
Anthropology (HIANB/26.HT)
Adult Education (KAANB/26-o.HR)
Estonian Philology (EKEB/26.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/26.HT)
Russian Philology (SKVB/26.HT)
Journalism (KOAB/26.FK)
Advertising and Public Relations (KORSB/26-o.FK)
Primary School Teacher (KAKLI/24.HR)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/26.HT)
Philosophy (HIFIB/26.HT)
Early Childhood Education (KAALB/26.HR)
Special Education (KAEPB/26.HR)
Law (AKLB/26.YK)
Philosophy, Politics and Economics (HFPMB/26.HT)
Sociology (RASLB/26-t.YK)
Sociology (RASLB/26-o.YK)
Liberal Arts in Social Sciences (KKLSB/26.YK)
Vocational Pedagogy (KAKPB/26-o.HR)
Adult Education (KAANB/26-t.HR)
Education (KAPB/26.HR)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/26.HT)
Youth Work (TPNR/26-t.HR)
Youth Work (TPNR/26-o.HR)
Asian Studies (HILAB/26.HT)
History (AIAJB/26.HT)
Law (AKOB/26-o.YK)
Primary School Teacher (KAKLI/23.HR)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/25.HT)
Early Childhood Education (KAALB/25.HR)
Advertising and Public Relations (KORSB/25.FK)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/25.YK)
Estonian Philology (EKEB/25.HT)
Vocational Pedagogy (KAKPB/25.HR)
Youth Work (TPNR/25.HR)
Education (KAPB/25.HR)
Russian Philology (SKVB/25.HT)
Choreography (KUKRB/24.FK)
Adult Education (KAANB/25-o.HR)
Journalism (KOAB/25.FK)
History (AIAJB/25.HT)
Youth Work (TPNR/25-o.HR)
Law (AKOB/25-o.YK)
Liberal Arts in Social Sciences (KKLSB/25.YK)
Anthropology (HIANB/25.HT)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/25.HT)
Sociology (RASLB/25-o.YK)
Adult Education (KAANB/25.HR)
Asian Studies (HILAB/25.HT)
Law (AKLB/25.YK)
Sociology (RASLB/25-t.YK)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/25.HT)
Philosophy (HIFIB/25.HT)
Special Education (KAEPB/25.HR)
Primary School Teacher (KAKLI/22.HR)
Advertising and Public Relations (KORSB/24.FK)
Journalism (KOAB/24.FK)
Early Childhood Education (KAALB/24.HR)
Sociology (RASLB/24-o.YK)
Adult Education (KAANB/24.HR)
Law (AKOB/24-o.YK)
Liberal Arts in Social Sciences (KKLSB/24.YK)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/24.HT)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/24.YK)
History (AIAJB/24.HT)
Anthropology (HIANB/24.HT)
Estonian Philology (EKEB/24.HT)
Philosophy (HIFIB/24.HT)
Sociology (RASLB/24-t.YK)
Law (AKLB/24.YK)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/24.HT)
Special Education (KAEPB/24.HR)
Russian Philology (SKVB/24.HT)
Education (KAPB/24.HR)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/24.HT)
Youth Work (TPNR/24.HR)
Asian Studies (HILAB/24.HT)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/23-o.HT)
Advertising and Public Relations (KORSB/23.FK)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/23.HT)
Sociology (RASLB/23-t.YK)
Education (KAPB/23.HR)
Philosophy (HIFIB/23.HT)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/23.YK)
Anthropology (HIANB/23.HT)
Primary School Teacher (KAKLI/21.HR)
Choreography (KUKRB/22.FK)
Special Education (KAEPB/23.HR)
History (AIAJB/23.HT)
Estonian Philology (EKEB/23.HT)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/23-t.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/23.HT)
Russian Philology (SKVB/23.HT)
Journalism (KOAB/23.FK)
Law (AKLB/23.YK)
Law (AKOB/23-o.YK)
Sociology (RASLB/23-o.YK )
Law (AKLB/23-hel.YK)
Asian Studies (HILAB/23.HT)
Education (KAPB/22.HR)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/22.HT)
Law (AKOB/22-o.YK)
Law (AKLB/22.YK)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/22.YK)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/22-t.HT)
Anthropology (HIANB/22.HT)
Sociology (RASLB/22.YK)
Estonian Philology (EKEB/22.HT)
History (AIAJB/22.HT)
Law (AKOB/22-t.YK)
Advertising and Public Relations (KORSB/22.FK)
Journalism (KOAB/22.FK)
Russian Philology (SKVB/22.HT)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/22-o.HT)
Asian Studies (HILAB/22.HT)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/22.HT)
Philosophy (HIFIB/22.HT)
Law (AKLB/22-hel.YK)
Choreography (KUKRB/20.FK)
Law (AKLB/21-hel.YK)
Russian Philology (SKVB/21.HT)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/21.HT)
Law (AKOB/21.YK)
Sociology (RASLB/21.YK)
Law (AKLB/21.YK)
Asian Studies (HILAB/21.HT)
History (AIAJB/21.HT)
Advertising and Public Relations (KORSB/21.FK)
Anthropology (HIANB/21.HT)
Education (KAPB/21.HR)
Estonian Philology (EKEB/21.HT)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/21.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/21.HT)
Philosophy (HIFIB/21.HT)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/21.YK)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/20.YK)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/20.HT)
Law (AKOB/20.YK)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/20.HT)
Asian Studies (HILAB/20.HT)
Sociology (RASLB/20.YK)
Philosophy (HIFIB/20.HT)
History (AIAJB/20.HT)
Anthropology (HIANB/20.HT)
Law (AKLB/20.YK)
Russian Philology (SKVB/20.HT)
Education (KAPB/20.HR)
Estonian Philology (EKEB/20.HT)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/20.HT)
Anthropology (HIANB/19.HT)
Estonian Philology (EKEB/19.HT)
History (AIAJB/19.HT)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/19.HT)
Philosophy (HIFIB/19.HT)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/19.HT)
Russian Philology (SKVB/19.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/19.HT)
Asian Studies (HILAB/19.HT)
Law (AKLB/19.YK)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/19.YK)
Sociology (RASLB/19.YK)
Sociology (RASLB/18.YK)
Asian Studies (HILAB/18.HT)
Russian Philology (SKVB/18.HT)
History (AIAJB/18.HT)
Philosophy (HIFIB/18.HT)
Estonian Philology (EKEB/18.HT)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/18.YK)
Law (AKLB/18.YK)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/18.HT)
Anthropology (HIANB/18.HT)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/18.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/18.HT)
Advertising and Publicity Studies (KORMB/17.FK)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/17.HT)
Anthropology (HIANB/17.HT)
Estonian Philology (EKEB/17.HT)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/17.HT)
Asian Studies (HILAB/17.HT)
Sociology (RASLB/17.YK)
Russian Philology (SKVB/17.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/17.HT)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/17.YK)
Philosophy (HIFIB/17.HT)
Law (AKLB/17.YK)
History (AIAJB/17.HT)
Estonian Philology (EKEB/16.HT)
Russian Philology (SKVB/16.HT)
Sociology (RASLB/16.YK)
Advertising and Publicity Studies (KORMB/16.FK)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/16.YK)
Anthropology (HIANB/16.HT)
Law (AKLB/16.YK)
Philosophy (HIFIB/16.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/16.HT)
Asian Studies (HILAB/16.HT)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/16.HT)
History (AIAJB/16.HT)
Anthropology (HIANB/00.HT)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/00.HT)
Asian Studies (HILAB/00.HT)
Choreography (KUKRB/26.FK )
Primary School Teacher (KAKLI/25.HR)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/26.YK)
Anthropology (HIANB/26.HT)
Adult Education (KAANB/26-o.HR)
Estonian Philology (EKEB/26.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/26.HT)
Russian Philology (SKVB/26.HT)
Journalism (KOAB/26.FK)
Advertising and Public Relations (KORSB/26-o.FK)
Primary School Teacher (KAKLI/24.HR)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/26.HT)
Philosophy (HIFIB/26.HT)
Early Childhood Education (KAALB/26.HR)
Special Education (KAEPB/26.HR)
Law (AKLB/26.YK)
Philosophy, Politics and Economics (HFPMB/26.HT)
Sociology (RASLB/26-t.YK)
Sociology (RASLB/26-o.YK)
Liberal Arts in Social Sciences (KKLSB/26.YK)
Vocational Pedagogy (KAKPB/26-o.HR)
Adult Education (KAANB/26-t.HR)
Education (KAPB/26.HR)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/26.HT)
Youth Work (TPNR/26-t.HR)
Youth Work (TPNR/26-o.HR)
Asian Studies (HILAB/26.HT)
History (AIAJB/26.HT)
Law (AKOB/26-o.YK)
Primary School Teacher (KAKLI/23.HR)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/25.HT)
Early Childhood Education (KAALB/25.HR)
Advertising and Public Relations (KORSB/25.FK)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/25.YK)
Estonian Philology (EKEB/25.HT)
Vocational Pedagogy (KAKPB/25.HR)
Youth Work (TPNR/25.HR)
Education (KAPB/25.HR)
Russian Philology (SKVB/25.HT)
Choreography (KUKRB/24.FK)
Adult Education (KAANB/25-o.HR)
Journalism (KOAB/25.FK)
History (AIAJB/25.HT)
Youth Work (TPNR/25-o.HR)
Law (AKOB/25-o.YK)
Liberal Arts in Social Sciences (KKLSB/25.YK)
Anthropology (HIANB/25.HT)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/25.HT)
Sociology (RASLB/25-o.YK)
Adult Education (KAANB/25.HR)
Asian Studies (HILAB/25.HT)
Law (AKLB/25.YK)
Sociology (RASLB/25-t.YK)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/25.HT)
Philosophy (HIFIB/25.HT)
Special Education (KAEPB/25.HR)
Primary School Teacher (KAKLI/22.HR)
Advertising and Public Relations (KORSB/24.FK)
Journalism (KOAB/24.FK)
Early Childhood Education (KAALB/24.HR)
Sociology (RASLB/24-o.YK)
Adult Education (KAANB/24.HR)
Law (AKOB/24-o.YK)
Liberal Arts in Social Sciences (KKLSB/24.YK)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/24.HT)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/24.YK)
History (AIAJB/24.HT)
Anthropology (HIANB/24.HT)
Estonian Philology (EKEB/24.HT)
Philosophy (HIFIB/24.HT)
Sociology (RASLB/24-t.YK)
Law (AKLB/24.YK)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/24.HT)
Special Education (KAEPB/24.HR)
Russian Philology (SKVB/24.HT)
Education (KAPB/24.HR)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/24.HT)
Youth Work (TPNR/24.HR)
Asian Studies (HILAB/24.HT)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/23-o.HT)
Advertising and Public Relations (KORSB/23.FK)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/23.HT)
Sociology (RASLB/23-t.YK)
Education (KAPB/23.HR)
Philosophy (HIFIB/23.HT)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/23.YK)
Anthropology (HIANB/23.HT)
Primary School Teacher (KAKLI/21.HR)
Choreography (KUKRB/22.FK)
Special Education (KAEPB/23.HR)
History (AIAJB/23.HT)
Estonian Philology (EKEB/23.HT)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/23-t.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/23.HT)
Russian Philology (SKVB/23.HT)
Journalism (KOAB/23.FK)
Law (AKLB/23.YK)
Law (AKOB/23-o.YK)
Sociology (RASLB/23-o.YK )
Law (AKLB/23-hel.YK)
Asian Studies (HILAB/23.HT)
Education (KAPB/22.HR)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/22.HT)
Law (AKOB/22-o.YK)
Law (AKLB/22.YK)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/22.YK)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/22-t.HT)
Anthropology (HIANB/22.HT)
Sociology (RASLB/22.YK)
Estonian Philology (EKEB/22.HT)
History (AIAJB/22.HT)
Law (AKOB/22-t.YK)
Advertising and Public Relations (KORSB/22.FK)
Journalism (KOAB/22.FK)
Russian Philology (SKVB/22.HT)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/22-o.HT)
Asian Studies (HILAB/22.HT)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/22.HT)
Philosophy (HIFIB/22.HT)
Law (AKLB/22-hel.YK)
Choreography (KUKRB/20.FK)
Law (AKLB/21-hel.YK)
Russian Philology (SKVB/21.HT)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/21.HT)
Law (AKOB/21.YK)
Sociology (RASLB/21.YK)
Law (AKLB/21.YK)
Asian Studies (HILAB/21.HT)
History (AIAJB/21.HT)
Advertising and Public Relations (KORSB/21.FK)
Anthropology (HIANB/21.HT)
Education (KAPB/21.HR)
Estonian Philology (EKEB/21.HT)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/21.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/21.HT)
Philosophy (HIFIB/21.HT)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/21.YK)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/20.YK)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/20.HT)
Law (AKOB/20.YK)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/20.HT)
Asian Studies (HILAB/20.HT)
Sociology (RASLB/20.YK)
Philosophy (HIFIB/20.HT)
History (AIAJB/20.HT)
Anthropology (HIANB/20.HT)
Law (AKLB/20.YK)
Russian Philology (SKVB/20.HT)
Education (KAPB/20.HR)
Estonian Philology (EKEB/20.HT)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/20.HT)
Anthropology (HIANB/19.HT)
Estonian Philology (EKEB/19.HT)
History (AIAJB/19.HT)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/19.HT)
Philosophy (HIFIB/19.HT)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/19.HT)
Russian Philology (SKVB/19.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/19.HT)
Asian Studies (HILAB/19.HT)
Law (AKLB/19.YK)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/19.YK)
Sociology (RASLB/19.YK)
Sociology (RASLB/18.YK)
Asian Studies (HILAB/18.HT)
Russian Philology (SKVB/18.HT)
History (AIAJB/18.HT)
Philosophy (HIFIB/18.HT)
Estonian Philology (EKEB/18.HT)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/18.YK)
Law (AKLB/18.YK)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/18.HT)
Anthropology (HIANB/18.HT)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/18.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/18.HT)
Advertising and Publicity Studies (KORMB/17.FK)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/17.HT)
Anthropology (HIANB/17.HT)
Estonian Philology (EKEB/17.HT)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/17.HT)
Asian Studies (HILAB/17.HT)
Sociology (RASLB/17.YK)
Russian Philology (SKVB/17.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/17.HT)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/17.YK)
Philosophy (HIFIB/17.HT)
Law (AKLB/17.YK)
History (AIAJB/17.HT)
Estonian Philology (EKEB/16.HT)
Russian Philology (SKVB/16.HT)
Sociology (RASLB/16.YK)
Advertising and Publicity Studies (KORMB/16.FK)
Politics and Governance (RIPGB/16.YK)
Anthropology (HIANB/16.HT)
Law (AKLB/16.YK)
Philosophy (HIFIB/16.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/16.HT)
Asian Studies (HILAB/16.HT)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/16.HT)
History (AIAJB/16.HT)
Anthropology (HIANB/00.HT)
European Modern Languages and Cultures (GRENB/00.HT)
Asian Studies (HILAB/00.HT)