How Should Logic be Taught; its utility | Are All Appeals to Authority Mistaken w/ Graham Oppy

1. There are different ways of thinking about premises in arguments, and it is important to distinguish between premises as starting points and premises as intermediate conclusions.

2. Conforming one's opinion to expert consensus is crucial in fields where there is a consensus, as it helps avoid ignorance and misinformation.
3.Critical thinking does not give individuals superpowers or the ability to determine the truth in every argument, especially in areas where there is no expert consensus.

4. Cooperative arguing involves genuine efforts to reach agreement based on evidential considerations, while uncooperative arguing focuses on winning or personal interests.

5. It is important to recognize when an argument is uncooperative and decide whether it is worth engaging with individuals who are not interested in cooperative arguing. Critical thinking is not a key to expertise in every field; expertise requires specialized knowledge and understanding of the consensus views within that field.

6. Understanding the role of experts and the variability in assessing arguments in different disciplines is crucial for effective critical thinking.

7. It is important to be cautious when making appeals to authority and to understand when such appeals are valid and when they are not.

8. Argument mapping can provide a framework for thinking critically and evaluating one's own beliefs and reasoning.

9. Critical thinking courses that incorporate argument mapping have been shown to improve academic performance in other subjects.

10. Logic and thinking have little to do with each other; principles of thinking and principles of logic are not necessarily the same.

11. Consistency is important in thought, and contradictions should be resolved by changing one's view rather than accepting everything as true.

12. The field of critical thinking is complex and encompasses various topics, including philosophy of education and philosophy of logic.