Some things could be other than they are. And if they were, well, then I guess things would be different, wouldn’t they? That’s not very interesting. What we find interesting is that decisions could have been made other than they… Read More ›
Critical Thinking
THE PERILS OF PATTER
Given the number of times a politician’s heart goes out to the families of this tragedy or of that, one wonders whether it ever stays home. This kind of patter isn’t as innocent as it might appear. It’s not that… Read More ›
THE CRITICAL THINKING PROFESSOR’S DILEMMA
S asserts that not-p. S is paid. Therefore S is paid to assert that not-p. The likelihood of the truth of not-p varies inversely with what one is paid to assert it. If one’s been exposed to the evidence… Read More ›
PEOPLE SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS
Correlation is not causation. Yes it is. In fact that’s all it is. Isn’t that exactly what Hume showed us? You can’t see a cause, you can only infer it. And you can only infer it from a correlation. Sheesh!… Read More ›
HOW TRUE BELIEVING CAN BE A CRITICAL-THINKING-SKILLS PARALYTIC
I’m not a neurologist but … I’m told that when the doctor tests your reflexes with that rubber hammer and your lower leg springs forward, the message isn’t going all the way up to the brain. I guess that’s because… Read More ›