TLÜ ÕIS

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 2023/2024 Spring semester

Oliver Laas (language of instruction:Estonian)

lecturer of 2024/2025 Autumn semester

Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.

Course aims

Acquiring the basics of philosophical and logical thinking: options for defining the object under scrutiny and research, logical deduction etc.;
Developing skills for compiling and writing analytic texts, ability to analyse texts critically;
Developing skills on different textual approaches for presenting knowledge: logical arguments, their types and common fallacies of argumentation, defining and its various options, recognising and avoiding the common argument and defining mistakes;
Distinguishing between certainty, probability and plausibility in arguments and deductions;
Ability to recognise and criticise wishful thinking, rhetorical deception and other ploys for distorting meaning;
Developing the skills of discussion and of writing a short essay;
Acquiring and applying the basic skills of discourse analysis.

Brief description of the course

Critical thinking is a course consisting of examples, exercises and practical tasks and it aims to:
1) teach the new undergraduate students to think logically, to define an object under research, to draw conclusions etc.;
2) recognise the typical mistakes of argumentation and definition;
3) teach students to compile analytical discussions and texts and to analyse other given texts critically.

Exercises and practical tasks will be used to explore the following topics:
Differences between knowledge and beliefs;
Logical arguments, their types and typical argumentation fallacies;
Wishful thinking, rhetorical deception and other types for distorting meaning;
Definitions and opportunities for defining;
Certainty, probability and plausibility in arguments and deductions;
Discourse and (critical) discourse analysis;
Options for textual criticism deriving from various theories and methodological approaches: criticism of power (authority) and ideology;
Psychoanalytic, semiotic, naturalistic, utilitarian, consequentionalistic, and deontological options for argumentation and criticism.

Learning outcomes in the course

Upon completing the course the student:
- has obtained the basics of philosophical and logical thinking;
- is able to define an object under research;
- is able to build an argument without common fallacies;
- is able to identify certainty, probability and plausibility in arguments and deductions;
- is able to write independently shorter analytical texts, i.e. essays and in oral discussion;
- is able to recognise and criticise wishful thinking, rhetorical deception and other common types of manipulating truth;
- is able to apply the major methods of discourse analysis.

Teacher

Oliver Laas

Study programmes containing that course