Write a 150- to 200-word response to each of the following questions:
• What are assumptions? How do you think assumptions might interfere with critical thinking? What might you do to avoid making assumptions in your thinking?
• What are fallacies? How are fallacies used in written, oral, and visual arguments? What might you do to avoid fallacies in your thinking?
1.
According to The Random House Dictionary, assumptions is the act of taking for granted or supposing, act of taking to or upon oneself, act of taking possession, arrogance or presumption. In the reading from this week assumption is to take for granted, to expect things will be a certain way because they have been in the past or you want them that way.
Assumptions effect critical thinking because if you take something for granted you may not think objectively about something. When I hear the word assume, It reminds me of a saying (to assume makes an *** out of you and me!) this saying helps me keep things in perspective and will assist in the critical thinking process. One way to avoid assumptions is to ask questions (play devils advocate) of the situation or material that you are working on. By getting a different perspective from someone else and compare your way of thinking to theirs to see if there are any flaws. By looking for flaws and avoiding assumptions a person will have a better end product or plan.
2.
According to The Random House Dictionary, a fallacy is logically unsound, deceptive, or misleading.
There are several instances that lead to errors in written, oral, and visual arguments. Either/or thinking is in the believing that there are only two choices, when there may be more. To correct this error you should conscientiously search out all points of view before choosing one. Avoiding the issue may occur by an unintentional misunderstanding or by an unconscious slip to something irrelevant. To correct you should look closely that the issue and ask