PHIL110 Critical Thinking – SPS CUNY
Unit 10 Discussion Assignment
Take a Break!
This assignment first asks you to ‘Take a Break with Elmo and Big Bird’
Now that we’ve established our context, let’s have some fun with Elmo, Big Bird and Deductive
Propositional Logic. Let’s remind ourselves of a couple rules of deductive logic:
• An argument is deductively valid if and only if the truth of its premises guarantees the
truth of its conclusion.
• Or alternatively stated: An argument is deductively valid if and only if there is no way for
its premises to all be true and its conclusion to be simultaneously false.
• The following table represents some of most used symbols, feel free to copy and paste
them:
Conjunction &
Disjunction ∨
Negation ~
Conditional ⊃
Biconditional ≡
Let’s now consider the following set of propositions:
• Elmo is red.
• Big Bird is green.
• Either Elmo is red or Big Bird is green.
• Big Bird is green and Elmo is red.
• It is not the case that Big Bird is green
Once we know the truth-value of the first two sentences (whether they are true or false), we can
figure out the truth-values of the others.
For this assignment, complete the worksheet below and add it to the Discussion Forum. Then
ead and comment on at least three students’ post by reviewing the completeness of their Truth
Tables.
Worksheet
(complete, then copy and paste the entire worksheet or the truth tables into the Discussion
Forum as your post)
Step 1. Represent these statements with variables and symbols. (For example E could stand for
“Elmo is red,” and B for “Big Bird is green,” but feel free to change these variables per your own
preference). Complete this table below:
https:
youtu.be/PzFXfvZuLK0
PHIL110 Critical Thinking – SPS CUNY
Given Sentence Your Formal Representation
Elmo is red. E
Big Bird is green. B
Either Elmo is red or Big Bird is green.
Big Bird is green and Elmo is red.
It is not the case that Big Bird is green
Step 2. Complete the following simple table with four combinations of T and F, when T (stands
for true) and F (for false):
E B
Step 3. Now complete the Truth Table for the rest of the sentences (T stands for true, and F
stands for false). The color-coding will help you determine where some of the same information
can be transfe
ed over from the previous tables.
Elmo is
ed
Big Bird is
green.
Either Elmo is red or
Big Bird is green.
Big Bird is green
and Elmo is red.
It is not the case that
Big Bird is green
E B
PHIL110 Critical Thinking – SPS CUNY
Step 4.
Interpret what this Truth table tells you. What’s your claim regarding Elmo and Big Bird’s
colors using the truth table you constructed? Does the information (T and F) from your Truth
Table align with reality? How is this process and constructing a Truth Table useful?
End of the Worksheet
Recommendations for Success and Grading Criteria:
• Respond to the assignment with clear and detailed answers, organized thoughts.
• Follow all assignment prompts and answers all prompt questions.
• Incorporate relevant examples and evidence to support claims.
• Write clearly and without e
ors a well-composed answer and post it on time.
• Respond to other students with interesting comments and follow-up
questions. Acknowledge all students who commented on your post.
PHIL110 Critical Thinking – SPS CUNY
Unit 4 Discussion Assignment
Climate Change or Fake Science?
Climate change is now affecting every country on every continent. Many believe that it is
disrupting national economies and negatively affecting people’s livelihoods. For this assignment,
you will be reviewing the UN Climate Change Annual Report and State of Climate Highlights
and practice your critical thinking skills by reconstructing arguments that employ inductive
generalizations and statistical syllogisms using date from these reports.
Step 1. Read the following and take good notes to yourself.
• UN Climate Change Annual Report
https:
unfccc.int
esource/annualreport/
• 2017 State of the Climate Highlights
https:
www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/state-climate-
highlights/2017
Step 2
Using the data from these reports, compose and post your response to the following discussion
prompts:
• Reconstruct or create one argument about climate change, using data from one of the
eports that employs inductive generalizations. (Be sure to cite your sources properly!)
Tell us what is an ‘inductive generalization’ (use the textbook or video as your resource)
and why yours is a good example of it.
• Reconstruct or create one argument about climate change, using data from one of the
eports that employs statistical syllogisms. Tell us what is a ‘statistical syllogism’ and
why yours is a good example of it.
Then:
• Evaluate your statistical generalization: Does it have an adequate sample size and is it a
non-biased sample?
Then:
• Write your personal response on the topic of Global Climate change.
• On a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being extremely urgent and 1 being not so urgent), how urgent of a
problem do you believe climate change is? Elaborate on your thoughts and use the
document to provide reasons and evidence for your claims.
https:
unfccc.int
esource/annualreport
https:
www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/state-climate-highlights/2017
https:
www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/state-climate-highlights/2017
PHIL110 Critical Thinking – SPS CUNY
• What do you believe is the biggest obstacle (political, cultural, economic or scientific)
that we must overcome? Explain yourself.
• What do you personally do already, or what can you do in the future to ‘take action’?
Step 3
Critical Thinkers’ Peer Response: Or maybe it’s fake science, and climate change is a hoax…?
You’ve probably heard some opinions that claim the possibility of climate change being nothing
ut fake science. Before you respond to your classmates in this Discussion Forum, read a few of
these views and begin to detect habits of good and bad thinking. Here are a couple to get you
started or find your own (there are too many of these out there!):
https:
calthomas.com/columns/climate-change-hoax-exposed
https:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming_conspiracy_theory
In your response to other students, use what you’ve learned so far about good and bad habits of
Critical Thinking (reviewing the following handout as needed) and identify examples of good
and bad questions, good and bad habits of thinking in regards to the Climate Change
debate.
https:
calthomas.com/columns/climate-change-hoax-exposed
https:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming_conspiracy_theory
PHIL110 Critical Thinking – SPS CUNY
Handout for a Critical Thinker ‘s Peer Response
Bad Questions:
• Rhetorical Questions
• Leading Questions
• Loaded Questions
• Obstructionist Questions
• Framing Questions
• Empty Questions
Bad Habits of Thinking:
• Self-Interest
• Saving Face
• Peer Pressure
• Stereotyping and Prejudice
• Excessive Skepticism
• Intellectual Laziness
• Relativism (Subjective or Cultural)
Good Questions:
• Direct
• Useful
• Open and Creative
Good Habits of Critical Thinking
• Be Curious
• Be Self-aware
• Be Healthy
• Be Courageous
• Be Reasonably Skeptical
• Think for Yourself
• Keep it Simple
• Be Precise
• Be Patient
• Be Consistent
• Be Open-Minded
• Ask for Help
PHIL110 Critical Thinking – SPS CUNY
Recommendations for Success and Grading Criteria:
• Respond to the assignment with clear and detailed answers, organized thoughts.
• Follow all assignment prompts and answers all prompt questions.
• Incorporate relevant examples and evidence to support claims.
• Write clearly and without e
ors a well-composed answer and post it on time.
• Respond to other students with interesting comments and follow-up
questions. Acknowledge all students who commented on your post.
PHIL110 Critical Thinking – SPS CUNY
Unit 4 Discussion Assignment
Climate Change or Fake Science?
Climate change is now affecting every country on every continent. Many believe that it is
disrupting national economies and negatively affecting people’s livelihoods. For this assignment,
you will be reviewing the UN Climate Change Annual Report and State of Climate Highlights
and practice your critical thinking skills by reconstructing arguments that employ inductive
generalizations and statistical syllogisms using date from these reports.
Step 1. Read the following and take good notes to yourself.
• UN Climate Change Annual Report
https:
unfccc.int
esource/annualreport/
• 2017 State of the Climate Highlights
https:
www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/state-climate-
highlights/2017
Step 2
Using the data from these reports, compose and post your response to the following discussion
prompts:
• Reconstruct or create one argument about climate change, using data from one of the
eports that employs inductive generalizations. (Be sure to cite your sources properly!)
Tell us what is an ‘inductive generalization’ (use the textbook or video as your resource)
and why yours is a good example of it.
• Reconstruct or create one argument about climate change, using data from one of the
eports that employs statistical syllogisms. Tell us what is a ‘statistical syllogism’ and
why yours is a good example of it.
Then:
• Evaluate your statistical generalization: Does it have an adequate sample size and is it a
non-biased sample?
Then:
• Write your personal response on the topic of Global Climate change.
• On a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being extremely urgent and 1 being not so urgent), how urgent of a
problem do you believe climate change is? Elaborate on your thoughts and use the
document to provide reasons and evidence for your claims.
https:
unfccc.int
esource/annualreport
https:
www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/state-climate-highlights/2017
https:
www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/state-climate-highlights/2017
PHIL110 Critical Thinking – SPS CUNY
• What do you believe is the biggest obstacle (political, cultural, economic or scientific)
that we must overcome? Explain yourself.
• What do you personally do already, or what can you do in the future to ‘take action’?
Step 3
Critical Thinkers’ Peer Response: Or maybe it’s fake science, and climate change is a hoax…?
You’ve probably heard some opinions that claim the possibility of climate change being nothing
ut fake science. Before you respond to your classmates in this Discussion Forum, read a few of
these views and begin to detect habits of good and bad thinking. Here are