lecturer of 2025/2026 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.