Critical Thinking (Level 4)
Classes
Monday 13 January - Monday 24 March 2025, 6pm-9pm
10 sessions - Check class timetable
Overview
Our Critical Thinking short course will introduce you to key elements of critical thinking and reasoning, along with the tools to analyse and construct arguments, not just in philosophy but in everyday life. You will learn such skills as how to identify argumentative steps, recognise good and bad reasoning and evaluate evidence of different kinds. Although the focus of this course is on arguments in ordinary language, you will also be introduced to some basic concepts in formal logic that are deployed across philosophical discussions. By the end of the course you will have learned how to think and argue more effectively.
We will cover:
- the structure of arguments
- inferential and deductive arguments
- different forms of inductive inference
- the use of evidence, examples, visual images
- different types of definition
- fallacies in both inferential and deductive argumentation
- validity and soundness
- finding missing or implied premises
- cognitive biases
- propaganda
- imagined scenarios and thought experiments in philosophical arguments
- target audiences and implied knowledge
- working with ideas for coursework essays
- research skills such as evaluating sources, recognising experts.
Assessment is via four short analyses/construction of arguments (15%, 15%, 30% and 40%).
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Entry requirements
Entry requirements
Most of our short courses have no formal entry requirements and are open to all students.
This short course has no prerequisites.
As part of the enrolment process, you may be required to submit a copy of a suitable form of ID.
International students who wish to come to the UK to study a short course can apply for a Visitor visa. Please note that it is not possible to obtain a Student visa to study a short course.
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How to apply
How to apply
You register directly onto the classes you would like to take. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis - so apply early. If you wish to take more than one short course, you can select each one separately and then register onto them together via our online application portal. There is usually no formal selection process, although some modules may have prerequisites and/or other requirements, which will be specified where relevant.