Assumptions are fundamental beliefs that we accept as true without proof or empirical evidence for their claims. Often, our assumptions are subconscious. We don’t realize that many of our claims and beliefs have a range of underpinning assumptions that have not been sufficiently scrutinized. So, critical thinking is necessary to analyze and challenge our own […]
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A contradiction is anything that contains logical inconsistencies, hypocrisies, or oppositional elements that cannot be both true at the one time. Five common types of contradiction are: There are other types, such as mathematical contradictions, but for the purposes of this article, we’ll be exploring the five common categories above, with examples of each. Contradiction
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The ad hominem fallacy is a fallacy in which a person discredits or rebuts an argument by attacking the speaker rather than the argument itself. In Latin, ad hominem means ‘to the man’ and this fallacy does exactly that. It targets the person rather than the argument. The ad hominem fallacy forms part of a
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Rebuttal is the process of presenting a counterargument to someone else’s claims or debate points. It is an essential element in the realm of debate and negotiations. To rebut is not merely to disagree. It needs to be a thoughtful, factual, and logical response to the argument presented. Some common methods of rebuttal include: I’ll
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Refutation refers to the act of proving a statement or theory wrong through the use of logical reasoning and evidence. Some strategies for refutation, which we may use in an argumentative essay, speech, or debate, include: I recommend to all my students that they refute possible counterclaims and contradicting perspectives in their argumentative essays in
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Incongruity occurs when something is out of place or not in harmony with our expectations. To manufacture incongruity, we simply need to bring two things together that don’t typically belong alongside one another. The juxtaposition of the two elements leads to what we call cognitive dissonance. Common situations where we might see incongruity include: Here
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Pragmatism is a philosophical tradition that emphasizes practical consequences and real world applications as the criteria for determining truth and meaning. This school of thought originated in the United States in the later part of the 19th century. Its proponents argue that an idea or proposition is true if it works satisfactorily or fulfills its
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There are three types of cultural capital: embodied, objectified, and institutionalized. These three types were formulated by Piere Bourdieu, the founder of the concept. According to Bourdieu, each of them can be acquired through your lifetime and leveraged to achieve social and economic capital. What is Cultural Capital? Culture comprises the art, architecture, music, literature,
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Social capital represents all of the social relationships, interactions, friendships, and people you know. You are said to have high social capital if you have a lot of relationships and connections. When we interact with others in society, goodwill and trust are generated. Individuals ( or entire communities) can, in turn, call upon this goodwill
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Cultural capital involves the cultural aptitudes of an individual or group. It comprises a person’s knowledge, behaviors, and skills that demonstrate their cultural competence. For example, a person’s accent can demonstrate whether or not they’re a native of a culture. Similarly, your ability to navigate cultural taboos, discuss popular sports, and knowledge of culturally important
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