The Socratic Life: Thinking Critically, Living Excellently

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The Socratic Life Thinking Critically, Living
Excellently

• Dr. Norris Frederick
• Queens University of Charlotte
• September 9, 2008

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A clear definition of argument (Monty Python)

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vteMlv3ripSM

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This presentation will be on the Core 112 website

• So dont try to copy down long quotations, etc.
• Just make notes of what you want to remember, the
  slide number, and you can go back later.

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Overview

• A definition of critical thinking
• Why critical thinking is important
• Whats involved in thinking critically
• Two most useful patterns for argument mapping
• The power of
• Guiding Principles
• Definitions
• Fallacies
• Socrates Critical Thinking and the Excellent
  (Noble) Life

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Socrates (470 399 B.C.)

• Arguably THE central figure in Western
  philosophy.
• Dialogues of Socrates written by his student
  Plato ( 427 347 B.C. )
• Platos student was Aristotle (384 322 B.C. )

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Socrates Guiding Principle

• for humans, the unexamined life is not worth
  living.
• The Apology

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A good definition of critical thinking

• Critical thinking is "reasonable reflective
  thinking that is focused on deciding what to
  believe or do."
• (Robert Ennis, "Critical Thinking A Streamlined
  Conception," Teaching Philosophy, 14, no. 1
  (1991) 5 -24)

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Critical thinking is

• About acting, not just about thinking.
• Its about making the best choice, not about
  having certainty, which is rarely if ever
  attainable.
• It requires a healthy skepticism, but its not
  just about skepticism.

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Critical thinking is important because

• Our beliefs are that on which we are willing to
  act (philosophers Charles Peirce, Wm. James).
• Beliefs are habits.
• Habits, when brought to our attention, can be
  seen as beliefs, which can then be examined, and
  perhaps the habits changed!
• Its critical for democracy.
• Its empowering for the individual thinker.

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Critical thinking as empowering Dilbert
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Critical thinking involves attitudes and value,
including

• Independent thinking
• Fair-mindedness
• Intellectual courage, consistency, and
  perseverance
• Confidence in ones reasoning
• Humility in distinguishing between belief and
  knowledge, knowing what one doesnt know

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And critical thinking involves abilities,
including

• Listening and reading critically
• Problem-solving
• Using the scientific method
• Avoiding oversimplification
• Tolerating ambiguity
• Practicing Socratic dialogue
• Mapping arguments
• Understanding fallacies
• Clarifying and defining terms and ideas

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Critical Thinking Some Lessons From Cognitive
Science

• Acquiring expertise in CT is difficult.
• CT is an ability, and we get better at it through
  practice. Repeated practice.
• To be able to transfer CT skills requires doing
  CT in various contexts (e.g., analyzing an essay,
  a speech, ones own argument, a textbook,
  business, sciences, humanities).

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Critical Thinking Some Lessons From Cognitive
Science

• Both theory of CT and practice must be used.
• Map it out argument mapping promotes skill
  and transferability.
• Were all prone to belief preservation.
• Tim Van Gelder, College Teaching 53, no. 1
  (2005) 41 46.

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Argument maps are excellent tools for critical
thinking because they

• Slow down the conversation
• Allow both visual and auditory input
• Present visually an entire argument
• Form the basis for a group discussion
• Make excellent practice in critical thinking

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Two excellent argument maps

• The Thinking Frames chart excellent for
  exploring several key dimensions of an idea (aka
  claim or belief), including its origins,
  consequences, and supporting and opposing
  reasons.
• The Toulmin chart the best for analyzing
  holistically the support and rebuttals to a
  argument.
• The point, however, is what works there are
  many ways to map arguments, including clearly
  focused and organized papers.

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The Thinking Frames Map (very briefly)

• Originally developed by Linda Elder and Richard
  Paul of the Center for Critical Thinking.

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Opposing reasons .
Origins of the idea or belief Belief or idea Its going to rain today. Consequences of accepting the belief
Supporting reasons
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Opposing reasons
Origins of the idea or belief The weather report on Channel 6. The newspaper. Belief or idea Its going to rain today. Consequences of accepting the belief
Supporting reasons
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Opposing reasons
Origins of the idea or belief The weather report on Channel 6. The newspaper. Belief or idea Its going to rain today. Consequences of accepting the belief (possibilities) I should carry umbrella. Ill cancel the picnic. Ill get wet.
Supporting reasons
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Opposing reasons
Origins of the idea or belief The weather report on Channel 6. The newspaper. Belief or idea Its going to rain today. Consequences of accepting the belief (possibilities) I should carry umbrella. Ill cancel the picnic. Ill get wet.
Supporting reasons Channel 6 has a meteorologist, not just a weather reporter.
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Opposing reasons Forecasts are wrong 30 of the time.
Origins of the idea or belief The weather report on Channel 6. The newspaper. Belief or idea Its going to rain today. Consequences of accepting the belief (possibilities) I should carry umbrella. Ill cancel the picnic. Ill get wet.
Supporting reasons Channel 6 has a meteorologist, not just a weather reporter.
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Opposing reasons
Origins of the idea or belief Belief or idea (Aeschylus) All wisdom comes through suffering Consequences of accepting the belief
Supporting reasons
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Opposing reasons
Origins of the idea or belief The hardscrabble existence of the Greeks. The Greek beliefs about the Gods. Personal experience Belief or idea (Aeschylus) All wisdom comes through suffering Consequences of accepting the belief
Supporting reasons
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Opposing reasons
Origins of the idea or belief The hardscrabble existence of the Greeks. The Greek beliefs about the Gods. Personal experience Belief or idea (Aeschylus) All wisdom comes through suffering Consequences of accepting the belief Ill just wait for the suffering. But I can be happy knowing Ill have wisdom!
Supporting reasons
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Opposing reasons
Origins of the idea or belief The hardscrabble existence of the Greeks. The Greek beliefs about the Gods. Personal experience Belief or idea (Aeschylus) All wisdom comes through suffering Consequences of accepting the belief Ill just wait for the suffering. But I can be happy knowing Ill have wisdom!
Supporting reasons No matter what our parents tell us, we have to experience it ourselves (suffer) before we understand it.
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Opposing reasons But do I have to jump off a tall building before I understand that suffering? I watched my older sister, and learned from some of her mistakes!
Origins of the idea or belief The hardscrabble existence of the Greeks. The Greek beliefs about the Gods. Personal experience Belief or idea (Aeschylus) All wisdom comes through suffering Consequences of accepting the belief Ill just wait for the suffering. But I can be happy knowing Ill have wisdom!
Supporting reasons No matter what our parents tell us, we have to experience it ourselves (suffer) before we undestand it.
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The Toulmin Chart

• Developed by contemporary philosopher Stephen
  Toulmin

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The power of understanding guiding principles
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Backing
Evidence Guiding Principle Claim These pills are safe.
Rebuttal
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Backing
Evidence I bought them on the internet. Guiding Principle Claim These pills are safe.
Rebuttal
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Backing
Evidence I bought them on the internet. Guiding Principle Whatever you buy on the internet is safe. Claim These pills are safe.
Rebuttal
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Backing A study of internet sales, particularly internet pharmaceutical sales. Personal observation
Evidence I bought them on the internet. Guiding Principle Whatever you buy on the internet is safe. Claim These pills are safe.
Rebuttal
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Backing Studies of internet sales, particularly internet pharmaceutical sales. Personal observation
Evidence I bought them on the internet. Guiding Principle Whatever you buy on the internet is safe. Claim These pills are safe.
Rebuttal but the study by Smith and Merck shows such drugs have far more dangers than drugs bought from drugstores. but Ive read of people dying from internet drugs!
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ANTIGONE (Creons argument) Backing
Evidence He is a traitor to our city. He attacked his own city in a war! Guiding Principle A traitor is not to be given the same honor as a patriot. Claim Certainly, No one should bury Polynices.
Rebuttal
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Backing Greek culture A wide-spread practice of all cultures A sense of justice
Evidence He is a traitor to our city. He attacked his own city in a war! Guiding Principle A traitor is not to be given the same honor as a patriot. Claim Certainly, No one should bury Polynices.

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Backing Greek culture A wide-spread practice of all cultures A sense of justice
Evidence He is a traitor to our city. He attacked his own city in a war! Guiding Principle A traitor is not to be given the same honor as a patriot. Claim Certainly, No one should bury Polynices.
Rebuttal (Antigone) but hes your nephew, hes my brother! but the laws of the gods deserve respect.
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Guiding principles may reflect deeply-held beliefs
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Backing
Evidence Guiding Principle - (Ratberts) All administrative assistants are women. Claim
Rebuttal
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Backing
Evidence Guiding Principle - (Harolds) If someone calls you by the wrong name, you should correct them. Claim
Rebuttal
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Backing
Evidence You called me Miss Pennington, but my name is Harold. Guiding Principle - (Harolds) If someone calls you by the wrong name, you should correct them. Claim (implied) You should learn my name.
Rebuttal
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Backing Our culture. Principles of respect for others and self-respect.
Evidence You called me Miss Pennington, but my name is Harold. Guiding Principle - (Harolds) If someone calls you by the wrong name, you should correct them. Claim (implied) You should learn my name.
Rebuttal
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Backing Our culture. Principles of respect for others and self-respect.
Evidence You called me Miss Pennington, but my name is Harold. Guiding Principle - (Harolds) If someone calls you by the wrong name, you should correct them. Claim (implied) You should learn my name.
Rebuttal but Ratbert is his boss.
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Backing
Evidence Guiding Principle of Ratbert and Harold You should do whatever will please the boss. (Whatever the boss wants, the boss gets.) Claim
Rebuttal
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Backing
Evidence The boss called Harold by a name not his name. Guiding Principle of Ratbert and Harold You should do whatever will please the boss. (Whatever the boss wants, the boss gets.) Claim Harold should change his name

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Backing Self-interest this is a good way to advance or at least survive (compare the Sentry in Antigone).
Evidence The boss called Harold by a name not your name. Guiding Principle of Ratbert and Harold You should do whatever will please the boss. (Whatever the boss wants, the boss gets.) Claim Harold should change his name
Rebuttal
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Backing Ethical theory of egoism, or self-interest this is a good way to advance or at least survive (compare the Sentry in Antigone).
Evidence The boss called Harold by a name not your name. Guiding Principle of Ratbert and Harold You should do whatever will please the boss. (Whatever the boss wants, the boss gets.) Claim Harold should change his name
Rebuttal (but this is absurd in this situation, which is of course what makes it funny)
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Evidence Guiding Principle You should do whatever will please the boss. (Whatever the boss wants, the boss gets.) Claim
Rebuttal
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IN THE TIMIE OF THE BUTTERFLIES Backing Ethical theory of egoism, or self-interest this is a good way to advance or at least survive
Evidence El Hefe wants Minerva to sleep with him. Guiding Principle You should do whatever will please the boss. (Whatever the boss wants, the boss gets.) Claim (Trujillo) Certainly, Minerva should sleep with him.
Rebuttal
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IN THE TIMIE OF THE BUTTERFLIES Backing Ethical theory of egoism, or self-interest this is a good way to advance or at least survive
Evidence El Hefe wants Minerva to sleep with him. Guiding Principle You should do whatever will please the boss. (Whatever the boss wants, the boss gets.) Claim (Trujillo) Certainly, Minerva should sleep with him.
Rebuttal (Minerva) . But my honor, pride, and self-respect are more important than my security.
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TOULMIN PATTERN Backing Given our general experience in the field concerned
Evidence Given this evidence (aka facts, grounds, data Guiding Principle In according with the resulting rules and principles from the backing Claim So, with the appropriate qualifier (certainly, presumably, probably, maybe, etc.), the claim follows
Rebuttal Unless there are exceptions to the guiding principle as it applies to this claim (and there almost always are)
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The power of fallacies

• I do now know, men of Athens, how my accusers
  affect you as for me, I was almost carried away
  in spite of myself, so persuasively did they
  speak.
• The first line of the Apology

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Backing
Evidence The accusers spoke persuasively. Guiding Principle Claim So what they said must be true -- Socrates must be guilty.
Rebuttal
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Backing
Evidence The accusers spoke persuasively. Guiding Principle If someone speaks persuasively, what they say must be true. Claim So what they said must be true. Socrates must be guilty.
Rebuttal
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Backing
Evidence The accusers spoke persuasively. Guiding Principle If someone speaks persuasively, what they say must be true. Claim So what they said must be true. Socrates must be guilty.
Rebuttal but this is a fallacy, which could take the form of appeal to popular attitudes, appeal to fear, personal attacks, and others.
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The power of fallacies

• I do now know, men of Athens, how my accusers
  affect you as for me, I was almost carried away
  in spite of myself, so persuasively did they
  speak. And yet, hardly anything of what they
  said is true.
• The first line of the Apology

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The power of definition
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SUMMER WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Evidence Minerva was courageous generous in serving her own country highly honorable Guiding Principle Noble means Having or showing qualities of high moral character, such as courage, generosity, or honor a noble spirit (bartleby.com) Claim Minerva led a noble life.

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Backing Bartleby.com is a reliable authority A study of various definitions of noble
Evidence Minerva was courageous generous in serving her own country highly honorable Guiding Principle Noble means Having or showing qualities of high moral character, such as courage, generosity, or honor a noble spirit (bartleby.com) Claim Minerva led a noble life.

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Backing Bartleby.com is a reliable authority A study of various definitions of noble
Evidence Minerva was courageous generous in serving her own country highly honorable Guiding Principle Noble means Having or showing qualities of high moral character, such as courage, generosity, or honor a noble spirit (bartleby.com) Claim Minerva led a noble life.
Rebuttal but dictionaries are just reporting the dominant usage but she was self-centered and endangered her family at times
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The power of definition the Euthyphro

• Euthyphros father binds and throws into ditch a
  laborer who had killed a household slave laborer
  dies.
• Euthyphro, on the way to court to prosecute his
  father, meets Socrates, who is waiting for his
  own trial
• The situation has all the makings of a Greek
  tragedy, meaning
• everyone will die in the end and/or..
• marry their parents.

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Euthyphro and Antigone

• Both involve a matter of justice where a person
  is required to make a decision involving a family
  matter.
• Both involve a relation of religious principles
  and family loyalty.
• Both involve a seer.
• Both involve talk about wisdom and good judgment.
  
• But this is one of Platos dialogues about
  Socrates and takes a very different approach from
  Sophocles tragedy.

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The story of the Euthyphro

• Euthyphro sees himself as a religious expert .
  He is like a professional priest who foretells
  the future (a seer).
• Socrates asks Euthyphro if his knowledge of the
  divine, of piety and impiety, is so accurate that
  he has no fear of bringing his father to trial.

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• E Euthyphro would not be superior to the
  majority of men, if I did not have accurate
  knowledge of all such things.
• S Please then let me be your pupil so I can
  defend myself in my trial against the accusations
  of impiety.Tell me then, what is the pious and
  what is the impious?

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One approach to defining piety

• Webster's New World Dictionary defines piety as
  follows "1. devotion to religious duties and
  practices. 2. loyalty and devotion to parents,
  family, etc."
• Does that answer the question of whether what
  Euthyphro is doing is pious?

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EUTHYPHROS DEFINITION AND ARGUMENT Backing The stories from Homer and others of the gods. Zeus did something very similar to his father, Chronos.
Evidence A laborer died as the result of my fathers actions. Guiding Principle The pious is to do what I am doing now, to prosecute the wrongdoer..." (Qualifier and Claim Certainly, I am acting piously in prosecuting my father.
Rebuttal
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Backing The stories from Homer and others of the gods. Zeus did something very similar to his father.
Evidence A laborer died as the result of my fathers actions. Guiding Principle "the pious is to do what I am doing now, to prosecute the wrongdoer..." Qualifier and Claim Certainly, I am acting piously in prosecuting my father.
Rebuttal (S) this is an example, not a definition "I did not bid you tell me one or two of the many pious actions but to give a standard by which to judge.
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Backing The stories from Homer and others of the gods.
Evidence (E) A laborer died as the result of my fathers actions. Guiding Principle (E) "...what is dear to the gods is pious, what is not is impious." Claim Certainly, I am acting piously in prosecuting my father.
Rebuttal
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Backing The stories from Homer and others of the gods.
Evidence (E) A laborer died as the result of my fathers actions. Guiding Principle (E) "...what is dear to the gods is pious, what is not is impious." Claim Certainly, I am acting piously in prosecuting my father.
Rebuttal (S) If the gods disagree, it will most likely be about right and wrong..
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Backing The stories from Homer and others of the gods.
Evidence (E) A laborer died as the result of my fathers actions. Guiding Principle (E) "...what is dear to the gods is pious, what is not is impious." Claim Certainly, I am acting piously in prosecuting my father.
Rebuttal (S) If the gods disagree, it will most likely be about right and wrong. "And the same things would be both pious and impious, according to this argument".
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Backing The stories from Homer and others of the gods.
Evidence (E) A laborer died as the result of my fathers actions. Guiding Principle (E) "...what is dear to the gods is pious, what is not is impious." Claim Certainly, I am acting piously in prosecuting my father.
Rebuttal (S) If the gods disagree, it will most likely be about right and wrong. "And the same things would be both pious and impious, according to this argument". A CONTRADICTION.
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Backing
Evidence Guiding Principle (Socrates takes the lead) Piety is a type of just action. (What do we need to know now?) Claim
Rebuttal
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What fundamental changes have occurred since the
beginning of the dialogue?

• We still dont know what piety is.
• The question of whether an action is pious is now
  seen as a matter of justice, not (just) as a
  matter of stories about the gods.
• We know what is justice not (only) through a
  story, but through a logical dialogue, through
  rigorous critical thinking about justice.
• Were more humble and see that living excellently
  (nobly) requires thinking critically.

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Two rather different guiding principles

• Sophocles (a surviving fragment) Since the
  gods conceal all things divine, you will never
  understand them, not though you go searching to
  the ends of the earth.
• Socrates' attitude is quite consistent with
  Xenophanes (c. 550 BC) "The gods have not
  revealed all things from the beginning to
  mortals but, by seeking, men find out, in time,
  what is better."

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For Socrates students (and you could be one)

• Their current self was split into two parts, one
  of which was Socrates (the questioner, the
  thinker)
• Their old self died (Camus To think is to begin
  to be undermined).
• A new self was born.
• They were transformed.
• Philosophy became for them a way of life.

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End