1). Describe a situation in which critical and creative thought could have been used for a better outcome. Describe why it is important to think critically and creatively in similar situations.
Answer: Highways and roads these days are congested with traffic. People often drive recklessly because they are in a hurry to get somewhere, and as a result become involved in road accidents. These aggressive drivers pose a danger to themselves and society. However, if these drivers think critically, they will not have to drive rashly and can avoid the possibility of accidents, or other altercations.
If the drivers of today think critically, they would not have to drive aggressively. They would prepare themselves to drive through busy traffic and would plan accordingly. The lack of critical think is a major reason people drive aggressively. As a result of poor planning, people end up giving themselves very less time to travel the distance they intend to commute, and at the last minute, they drive rashly so they can reach their destination on time. In such situations, critical thinking can prevent people from taking the wrong step, such as speeding, and help them avoid a disastrous situation, such as a dangerous road accident.
2). Define free will, truth, knowledge, and opinion. Explain how we use them to form thoughts.
Answer: Free will is the ability that enables us to oppose even the strongest influences (Ruggiero, 1998:37). No matter what the situation, even when our choices are being influenced by our ethics or morals, we always have a choice, and our free will allows us to act upon that choice.
Truth is what is real about something. Truth is reality (Ruggiero, 1998:27). Truth always remains the same. Although we may change what we believe and know about a subject, the truth about that subject remains the same.
Knowledge about a subject is what is understand as fact and know is true. Authentic knowledge can be obtained in three different ways, namely personal experience, observation, and report from others (Ruggiero, 1998:30).
Opinions are beliefs and judgments that we hold about a particular subject, and how we express them in an extremely personal way. Everyone has different opinions about the same and different subjects, since each one of us perceives things differently.
3). Identify three hindrances to the critical thinking process. Determine methods for overcoming these hindrances. Identify a time in which you experienced a hindrance in critical thinking. Describe a method you could use to overcome the hindrances.
Answer: Facing challenges in the form of hindrances is common for a critical thinker. Bias, egocentrism, and pride are three main hindrances that people face in the critical thinking process. Critical thinkers should develop humility and intellectual empathy to begin overcoming their bias. Critical thinkers should acknowledge that they think egocentrically and be willing to change this habit to overcome their egocentrism. Critical thinkers should acknowledge the challenges they overcome instead of just the achievements to overcome pride. I often experience self-deception, which hinders me in the critical thinking process. Whenever I am doing some work, whether homework or household chores, I deceive myself into thinking that I have “done enough” even when the work has not been finished. I started making a schedule of the work I had to finish in a day at all costs in order to overcome this hindrance. This helped me in overcoming this hindrance in my critical thinking process and I always finish all my work on time now.
4). Identify a message in advertising. Describe how you perceive the message of the advertisement. Try to determine the reality of the advertisement. Distinguish between your perception and the reality of the message. Make your advertisement visible by attaching a link, a scanned PDF/jpg image, etc.
Answer: The message in an advertisement that I will be identifying is in a recent Coca-Cola advertisement that reads “a classic never goes out of style.” The advertisement has the image of a coke bottle created by a several small pictures combined together. The message in the advertisement that I can perceive is Coca-Cola is being portrayed as an “American classic” since the small images the bottle has been created with is of classic musicians. Perhaps the reality of this advertisement is as I perceived it to be, but honestly, I was not able to determine the reality of the advertisement at first glance. Upon closer inspection, it can be noticed that the small images have a different brightness that enhances the prominence of the Coke bottle. This advertisement is perhaps also representing the unification “classic America” since the small images are so close together within the Coke bottle.
References
(n.d.). A classic never goes out of style. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NEQ8hy25-N0/Srte22Zt7rI/AAAAAAAAAGE/i2OjmX_1c0Y/s400/coke-advertising-a-classic-never-goes-out-of-style1.jpg
Bassham, G. (2004). Critical thinking: A student's introduction with powerweb. McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages.
Ruggiero, V. R. (1998). The art of thinking, a guide to critical and creative thought. (9th ed.). Longman Publishing Group.
