Analogies in Critical Thinking

Using analogies in our everyday life has come to be very common in our usual conversations. In the text, analogy is defined as a type of comparison between two topics. Sometimes, thoughts are easier understood when it is compared with other things that could easily be related to. Analogies are most especially helpful when it comes to complex comparisons. In addition, it is also advantageous in arguments. However when used in this manner, there are steps to be followed. These are first of all, identifying what is being compared, followed by listing the similarities and dissimilarities, then comparing both of these lists. Next, looking at the possible counteranalogies and finally deciding if the analogy is sufficient enough to support the conclusion. There are several means of arguments in writing, but to make a strong one using analogies, the rules should be followed efficiently. It is always important to drive a point across as conducive as possible to deliver an adequate argument.

Vices in Youth

Dr. Novello is a notable woman in society and she definitely influences both the young and older crowds in the field of health. In the article, she focuses on cigarette smoking in teens and how it progressed since the year of 1988. As she tried to figure out the reason as to why this happened, she used the cause-and-effect inductive reasoning. In the article, Dr. Novello's cause for the issue is the increase of Camel ads for Camel cigarettes. Another cause is that the youth is not thoroughly educated about the issue. As a result, Dr. Novello decides to work for more education in the schools and at the same time try to ban the cigarette ads. To conclude her reasoning, she implies that decreasing the amount of advertising for these cigarettes and at the same time increasing the knowledge of kids about this issue will probably help the lowering the problem of smoking among children and teens.

Inductive Reasoning

Whether we notice it or not, do it intentionally or not, as critical thinkers nowadays, inductive reasoning occurs quite often. It gradually has become our way to reason out many situations that come our way. I can even personally attest to this. For example, the last time I had Sashimi, I got food poisoning from it. Just because it happened once quite recently, it made me arrive to a conclusion that was reasoned out by inductive thinking. In this given situation, I can say that my first premise could be Sashimi is raw food. The second premise could be that raw food gives  me food poisoning. Therefore, I can say that Sashimi probably gave me food poisoning. I would say that this is an inductive reasoning because I claimed that my conclusion is not definite and could only possibly be true. Though this form of reasoning is not always right, I can say that it is still an effective way of thinking because it does not immediately assume and rush into possibly wrong conclusions. Even though my example may have a possibility of being true, it does not reassure that Sashimi was the only reason that I had food poisoning.

Validity of an Argument

Believe it or not, but in our everyday lives, arguing has become inevitable. Whether it is a huge argument or one that is really minute, it comes up in our conversations with people, and the funny part, even with ourselves. Chapter 8 discusses valid and invalid arguments. It talks about how a conclusion to an argument may be false not because the of the invalid form of argument, but due to the fact that the premise is false. However, this is also not always the case. There may be instances where both the premise and conclusion are accurate, but only because it happens to be true. I believed this section of the chapter to be considerable and of value because arguments are used in daily dialogues, especially in forms of persuasion. For an argument to be substantial and be of validity, it must relay accurate facts and be delivered in the proper and most persuasive methods. These compelling arguments help us form an idea of what thoughts, doings and values to believe and how to correctly act on it.

Capital Punishment

The United States is a very diverse country, hence the varying beliefs on certain controversial issues such as capital punishment. Human dignity is the one element that should be valued by everyone. Though not every culture puts their belief in the value of human life, ending someone's life, should not be in the control of another fellow human being. Referring to what Sister Helen Prejean mentioned, it is against what we are thought and brought up to be. Some Christians may find this acceptable due to the fact that they see the logic in giving death as a punishment for an act that somebody has done that could be or is equally as malicious as ending a life. What makes the death penalty so ethical and reasonable to begin with? Ending someone's life as a punishment will not change the past, nor will it bring justice. It absolutely gives nothing but removal of rights, nothing but another dead human being. In addition, based on the passages in chapter 8, all the countries involved in the European Union are strongly against the death penalty and are continuing to rally against it. Capital punishment has been going for years and it must be abolished. There are other means of punishment, but death is certainly never an adequate response to a crime.

Tell Nothing but the Truth

The short story about Silver Blaze can easily be tied into the everyday lives of people. When Sherlock Holmes explains that "many people rely on opinion and unsupported assumptions," it only means that people easily give into their hunch or gut feeling without taking all factors, obvious or hidden, into consideration. It is only human nature to jump into conclusions based on their own thoughts and opinions and other people's stories without complete knowledge and confirmation of the facts.

I can personally testify that this is true because of a very classic incident that happened to me in the past that I am sure many of you can easily relate to either because it may have already happened to you or you may have heard about it. A really good friend of mine and myself got into a huge argument because of a rumor I believed in that I have heard from my other friends. Based from our relationship, this good friend of mine had a tendency to commit such act. So I easily accredited what the others had told me. We got into a huge debacle about how I did not trust her nor our friendship well enough to believe what she said. Eventually, in the end the truth came out and I was, in fact, at fault and misguided. I fell along the lines of people who just easily jump into a "rumor" without critically thinking the situation through. Being the defensive human beings that we are, we tend to do this and at times, may blow it out of proportion. This bad habit needs to be put to an end, before we all get ourselves into some serious trouble.

What is the Issue?

Identifying an issue is always the first step to solving a problem. The article stresses that not clearly stating an issue will only lead to frustration and misunderstanding. When reading any piecework, as a critical thinker it is crucial to find what the author is trying to relay. The article also says that it is more evident to interpret an issue through talking. However this will not always be the case. The writer suggest that when presented a written work, a reader's focus should be on either the title or first paragraphs. Before going into further details, it is key to understand what is being talked about. From there deriving arguments, questions and solutions would become not only easier but also more accurate. For instance if there is an issue being discussed, it would be easier to interpret the written piece's purpose which then enables the readers to fully grasp the message and from then on go about furthering and expanding their ideas.

Taking a Stance

Growing up, I have always lived around a safe, predominantly white, sheltered community. When I landed my first job at retail, my managers would always tell all of the employees to keep an eye out for those customers that come in and seem suspicious even if they were not doing anything out of the ordinary. The customers that my managers normally single out are Mexicans and African-Americans. As a newly hired employee, I listened to everything that my managers told me, even if I felt a little uncomfortable about the racist comments they would talk about each of the purchasers. Eventually, I tried to make it clear that it was not making me feel comfortable. Eventually one day, I pulled one of my managers aside and told her that some customers are here to shop and all the times that we were asked to spy on the customers who were not of white descent, nothing terrible happens. I also told her that just because a person is white, it does not mean that he or she would not steal anything from the store. In all honesty, it took me a while to build up that confidence to talk to my manager in fear of losing my job. However I am glad I took a stance and she listened to what I had to say. Though they still do it at times, and I understand that they are just doing their job, they toned down the unnecessary comments. I have learned that sometimes it just takes a little leap of confidence to stand behind what you believe is right. This is key to success and happiness.

President Obama's Stance on Same-Sex Marriage

     President Barack Obama supports the two opposing beliefs regarding the legalization of same-sex marriage and civil union and equal rights among the people. Though the two ideas are not really homogeneous of each other, President Obama backs up each of his stances. Taking on his job as the President of this country, he made a commitment to serve the people to the best of his abilities through logical thoughts and acts, at the same time serving as an example of a true leader standing confidently behind his morals and what he believes to be intuitive.

     In response to Nava and Dawidoff's article, President Obama would take into perspective the writers' points of view while still backing up his personal beliefs. If he does otherwise, he loses credibility because he is simply giving in to what everyone else wants him to do, without putting into regard what he originally believes as just. Instead, Obama still respects that everyone should have equal rights thus legalizing civil unions. By allowing this, he stays true to himself while serving his country to the very best that he can.