Question 1

Critical thinking .

Accepted Answer

Critical thinking involves the ability to analyze and evaluate arguments using a set of criteria to determine their validity and strength. It is not simply a goal or ethical standard, and it does not rely on assumptions of similarity.

Question 2

A(n) is the goal toward which reasoning pushes us.

Accepted Answer

The conclusion is the final result or outcome that reasoning leads us to. The other options are not the ultimate goal of reasoning. Initiative refers to taking action or starting something, analogy is a comparison between two things, and premise is a statement that provides evidence or support for a conclusion.

Question 3

Mike's organization manages the logistics for a petroleum company. Last month, one of its tankers spilled about one hundred tons of oil in the ocean while transporting it. Mike meets with a lawyer to understand his organization's liability in the accident, and he is relieved to hear that all the damages have to be paid by the petroleum company. Which of the following statements best describes the conclusion in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

The lawyer has informed Mike that his organization is not liable for the damages and that they must be paid by the petroleum company. Therefore, option C is the correct choice.

Question 4

Which of the following is typically the step after identifying the issue in legal reasoning?

Accepted Answer

After identifying the issue in legal reasoning, the next step is to state the reasons and conclusion of the issue. This involves analyzing and applying the relevant rules of law and legal analogies to the issue at hand. Looking for evidence of relevant missing information may come earlier in the process of identifying the issue, while stating the relevant rules of law would come after stating the reasons and conclusion.

Question 5

The stimulus that initiates legal reasoning is known as the .

Accepted Answer

The stimulus that initiates legal reasoning is known as the issue, which refers to a point of law or a question about the law that needs to be resolved in a legal case. A conclusion is the final decision or judgment reached by a court, while a reason is a justification or rationale for that decision. A norm is a standard or principle of behavior that is considered typical or appropriate in a given situation.

Question 6

Indoctrination refers to the ability to understand what someone is saying and then to ask specific questions enabling you to evaluate the quality of the reasoning offered to support whatever advice someone has given you.

Accepted Answer

Indoctrination actually refers to the process of teaching someone to accept a set of beliefs uncritically, without questioning them. The statement in the question is describing the opposite of indoctrination - the ability to critically evaluate reasoning and advice.

Question 7

Business firms encounter legal in the form of laws or court decisions and in the advice they receive from people with formal legal training.

Accepted Answer

Legal advice helps businesses draw conclusions about how to comply with laws and operate legally. "Deductions" and "reductions" do not make sense in this context, and "inductions" is not the correct term for legal advice.

Question 8

Define critical thinking and discuss the importance of critical thinking skills in business.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define critical thinking and discuss the importance...

Question 9

A preconceived notion is a position or stance on an issue, the takeaway that the person giving you the advice wants you to believe.

Accepted Answer

A preconceived notion is a belief or opinion formed beforehand without adequate evidence, not necessarily related to advice or persuasion.

Question 10

Which of the following statements best illustrates the use of critical thinking skills by a lawyer?

Accepted Answer

Critical thinking involves gathering all relevant information, determining the real issue in dispute, and applying reason to reach a conclusion. This is exactly what is described in option C, where the lawyer approaches a difficult problem in a thoughtful and strategic manner. Option A is an example of procedural knowledge and courtroom strategy, while option B is an example of persuasion and presentation skills. Option D is an example of forensic analysis, which requires specialized training and expertise but may not necessarily involve critical thinking skills.

Question 11

The reason is a position or stance on an issue, the takeaway that the person giving the advice wants the other person to believe.

Accepted Answer

The reason is the justification or rationale behind a position or stance, not the position or stance itself.

Question 12

Martin, an entrepreneur, has been facing an employee union strike at his factory for the past four weeks. Last week, the laborers from his factory entered his home without his consent to list out their demands to him while insisting on better working conditions for the employees. Martin consulted his lawyer who was of the opinion that the committed offense was criminal in nature. Which among the following statements best describes the issue in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

The issue in this scenario is whether union organizers are allowed to enter an employer's property without consent. The fact that the committed offense was criminal in nature implies that the entry of the employees without consent was illegal. The strike and demand for better working conditions are secondary issues.

Question 13

A(n) is a position or stance on an issue, the "takeaway" that the person giving you the advice wants you to believe.

Accepted Answer

A conclusion is a position or stance on an issue, representing the final takeaway or belief that the person wants you to accept.

Question 14

The one characteristic shared by many forms of critical thinking is the focus on the quality of an individual's .

Accepted Answer

Many forms of critical thinking assess the quality of an individual's reasoning by evaluating the validity, reliability, and relevance of their arguments and evidence. This can involve analyzing the assumptions, biases, and logical structures underlying their claims and identifying potential flaws or fallacies in their reasoning. While ethical values may be a factor in some forms of critical thinking, they are not necessarily a defining characteristic. Similarly, while an individual's past conclusions may be relevant in certain contexts, the primary focus of critical thinking is on evaluating the soundness of their present arguments and evidence. Finally, while taking a stand on an issue may require critical thinking, it is not the same as engaging in a systematic evaluation of the quality of an individual's reasoning.

Question 15

Critical thinking is inactive because it discourages people from forming judgments about the quality of the link between someone's reasons and conclusions.

Accepted Answer

Critical thinking is active, not inactive, and it actually encourages people to form judgments about the quality of the link between someone's reasons and conclusions.

Question 16

When people engage in legal reasoning, the stimulus that gets them thinking is called the conclusion.

Accepted Answer

The stimulus that gets people thinking in legal reasoning is called the premise, not the conclusion. The conclusion is the end result of the reasoning process.

Question 17

Which of the following is the last step to legal reasoning in the critical thinking model?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is the last...

Question 18

Which of the following is the first step to legal reasoning in the critical thinking model?

Accepted Answer

The first step in legal reasoning is to state the facts of the case. Without clear understanding of the facts, it is impossible to apply relevant rules of law or analyze legal analogies. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

Question 19

Which of the following statements best illustrates a conclusion?

Accepted Answer

The judge's written decision at the end of a trial is a conclusion because it summarizes the evidence and arguments presented in the case and makes a definitive ruling or judgment. This decision represents the final outcome or result of the legal process.

Question 20

Issues are stated as questions because they .

Accepted Answer

Stating issues as questions can be seen as a call for action because it prompts people to think about possible solutions and take action towards addressing the issue. It also encourages discussion and collaboration towards finding solutions.

Quiz 1: Critical Thinking and Legal Reasoning