Acartia_Bogart
Posts: 2927
Joined: Sep. 2014
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| Quote (stevestory @ May 20 2015,17:03) | | Quote | 264
Larry MoranMay 20, 2015 at 9:14 am
soundburger at #251 says,
For example, if a student came up to a professor in such a course, saying that he liked a certain writer, and it was revealed that the writer used juvenile put downs (such as IDiot), and numerous charges of stupidity, etc, toward those he disagreed with, what would a GOOD Critical Thinking prof do?
I’ll tell you what I do. Maybe that will help.
I would point out that there’s a difference between critical thinking and rhetorical devices. In order to survive in the real world you have to learn about both. Critical thinking involves making sure you understand sound logic and the facts.
How you deliver that information effectively in a modern society often involves additional skills.
We use Jonathan Wells’ book Icons of Evolution as an example. We learn that his put down of evolutionary biologists by charging them with stupidity is a very effective strategy for his audience. We learn that the creationists, in general, are very good at this sort of thing and it works.
I show them that if you want to really engage in a debate then it’s pretty ineffective to just rely on evidence and critical thinking. No politician will ever do this. Sometimes you have to be provocative and annoying in order to attract attention and get your message out. That’s how the real world works.
For example, many evolutionary biologist have written about random genetic drift, Neutral Theory, etc. etc. but they have been ignored. As soon as I start calling ID proponents IDiots I get an entire thread with my name on it and I get a chance to actually educate some of them. |
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Until Barry Arrogant thinks that Larry is winning. Then it is to the penalty box for Larry.
But until then, I am enjoying the hell out of this.
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