Question 1

When we decide to accept a claim solely on the grounds that it advances, or coincides with, out interests, we are guilty of…
A) Group-centered thinking
B) Biased thinking
C) Prejudicial thinking
D) Self-centered thinking

Accepted Answer

Accepting a claim solely because it aligns with one's own interests, without considering its validity or evidence, is an example of self-centered thinking. This approach prioritizes personal benefit over objective reasoning.

Question 2

The tendency to give more credence to a statement if it comes from a friend is called…
A) Homophily
B) Illusion-of-truth effect
C) Mere exposure effect
D) Dunning-Kruger effect

Accepted Answer

Homophily is the tendency to have closer bonds with individuals who are similar to us in important ways, which often includes sharing similar beliefs or opinions. This can lead to giving more credence to statements made by friends, as they are likely to be part of one's in-group with whom one shares similarities.

Question 3

A guideline that is not likely to help you escape self-interested thinking is…
A) Watch out when things get personal
B) Tell people what they want to hear
C) Be alert to ways that critical thinking can be undermined
D) Ensure that nothing has been left out

Accepted Answer

Telling people what they want to hear is more about pleasing others or manipulating perceptions rather than promoting objective, selfless thinking. It does not encourage the critical evaluation of ideas or situations beyond personal biases or interests.

Question 4

Appealing to popularity and stereotyping are both forms of…
A) Group-centered thinking
B) Biased thinking
C) Prejudicial thinking
D) Self-centered thinking

Accepted Answer

The answer of Appealing to popularity and stereotyping are both...

Question 5

The urge to distort your thinking to save face is…
A) A sign of self-interested thinking
B) Abnormal
C) Useful in deciding an issue
D) The beginning of wisdom

Accepted Answer

This urge is a manifestation of self-interested thinking, where an individual may manipulate their own thoughts or beliefs to protect their ego or self-image, rather than seeking truth or understanding.

Question 6

A common flaw in reasoning is the failure to consider evidence or arguments that…
A) Do not support preferred claims or positions
B) Support preferred evidence or arguments
C) Are familiar or predictable
D) We have held previously

Accepted Answer

A common flaw in reasoning is confirmation bias, where individuals fail to consider evidence or arguments that do not support their preferred claims or positions, often leading to a skewed understanding of an issue.

Question 7

Classifying individuals into groups according to oversimplified or prejudiced attitudes or opinions is known as…
A) Appeal to common practice
B) Appeal to tradition
C) Peer pressure
D) Stereotyping

Accepted Answer

Stereotyping involves classifying individuals into groups based on oversimplified or prejudiced attitudes or opinions, often ignoring individual differences.

Question 8

Subjective relativism is the idea that…
A) Truth is relative to societies
B) Truth depends on what someone believes
C) There is a way the world is
D) Some objective truths are about our subjective states

Accepted Answer

Subjective relativism posits that truth is dependent on individual beliefs, meaning what is true for one person may not be true for another based on their personal beliefs.

Question 9

Self-interested thinking can leave you vulnerable to…
A) Well-established claims
B) Self-examination and self-denial
C) Propaganda and manipulation
D) The needs of others

Accepted Answer

Self-interested thinking often focuses on one's own needs and desires, making it easier for others to use propaganda and manipulation to influence decisions and opinions.

Question 10

Category 1 obstacles to critical thinking include…
A) Reasons and explanations
B) Beliefs and claims
C) Fears, attitudes, and motivations
D) Friends and relatives

Accepted Answer

Category 1 obstacles to critical thinking are internal, such as fears, attitudes, and motivations, which can bias thinking and decision-making.

Question 11

Self-interest alone…
A) Cannot establish the truth of a claim
B) Cannot be controlled
C) Cannot affect our thinking
D) Cannot affect our motivations and desires

Accepted Answer

Self-interest alone cannot establish the truth of a claim because the truth or falsity of a claim is independent of an individual's personal interests or desires. Self-interest can, however, influence our motivations, desires, and potentially our thinking, but it does not serve as a basis for determining the truth.

Question 12

You are most likely to let your self-interest get in the way of clear thinking when you…
A) Are indifferent to your circumstances
B) Have a personal stake in the conclusions you reach
C) Have no commitments
D) Try to control your emotions

Accepted Answer

Having a personal stake in the conclusions you reach can bias your thinking and decision-making process, leading to self-interest influencing your judgments.

Question 13

The sign of a maturing intellect is having the will and the courage to gradually prune beliefs that are…
A) Uncomfortable
B) Groundless
C) Approved of by our group
D) Unnecessary

Accepted Answer

A maturing intellect involves critically evaluating and letting go of beliefs that lack evidence or rational foundation, hence "groundless" is the correct choice.

Question 14

Common sense shows that. . .
A) Believing something to be true leads to error
B) Believing that something is true does not make it true
C) Your believing that something is true makes it true
D) A belief that a proposition is false is usually correct

Accepted Answer

Believing that something is true does not necessarily make it true; reality is independent of our beliefs. This statement reflects a basic principle of logic and epistemology, emphasizing the distinction between belief and truth.

Question 15

According to social relativism, the beliefs of a society…
A) Cannot be true
B) Cannot be false
C) Cannot be mistaken
D) Can be mistaken

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to social relativism, the beliefs of...

Question 16

Believing a proposition without good reasons is…
A) A sign of strong emotions
B) A recipe for finding inductive truths
C) A recipe for incorrect conclusions
D) Rational

Accepted Answer

Believing a proposition without good reasons often leads to incorrect conclusions because it lacks a solid foundation of evidence or logical reasoning to support the belief.

Question 17

Group pressure generally does not help you to…
A) Proportion your belief to the strength of reasons
B) Proportion your belief to the strength of group influence
C) Reject claims endorsed by groups
D) Accept only claims endorsed by preferred groups

Accepted Answer

Group pressure generally influences individuals to conform to the group's beliefs or behaviors, rather than proportioning their beliefs to the strength of reasons or evidence.

Question 18

Category 2 obstacles to critical thinking include…
A) Skepticism, emotion, and group thinking
B) Subjective relativism, social relativism, and skepticism
C) Psychological factors
D) Subjective relativism, social relativism, and egoism

Accepted Answer

Category 2 obstacles to critical thinking involve philosophical challenges such as subjective relativism, social relativism, and skepticism.

Question 19

The phenomenon of being ignorant of how ignorant we are is known as…
A) Homophily
B) Illusion-of-truth effect
C) Mere exposure effect
D) Dunning-Kruger effect

Accepted Answer

The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which people with low ability at a task overestimate their ability. It's essentially a lack of self-awareness of one's incompetence.

Question 20

A set of fundamental ideas that helps us make sense of a wide range of important issues in life is known as a(n)…
A) Prejudice
B) Conceptual scheme
C) Philosophy
D) Worldview

Accepted Answer

A worldview encompasses a set of fundamental ideas and beliefs that help individuals understand and interpret a wide range of important life issues, acting as a comprehensive framework for understanding the world and our place within it.

Quiz 2: Obstacles to Critical Thinking

When we decide to accept a claim solely on the grounds that it advances, or coincides with, out interests, we are guilty of…

The tendency to give more credence to a statement if it comes from a friend is called…

A guideline that is not likely to help you escape self-interested thinking is…

Appealing to popularity and stereotyping are both forms of…

The urge to distort your thinking to save face is…

A common flaw in reasoning is the failure to consider evidence or arguments that…

Classifying individuals into groups according to oversimplified or prejudiced attitudes or opinions is known as…

Subjective relativism is the idea that…

Self-interested thinking can leave you vulnerable to…

Category 1 obstacles to critical thinking include…

Self-interest alone…

You are most likely to let your self-interest get in the way of clear thinking when you…

The sign of a maturing intellect is having the will and the courage to gradually prune beliefs that are…

Common sense shows that. . .

According to social relativism, the beliefs of a society…

Believing a proposition without good reasons is…

Group pressure generally does not help you to…

Category 2 obstacles to critical thinking include…

The phenomenon of being ignorant of how ignorant we are is known as…

A set of fundamental ideas that helps us make sense of a wide range of important issues in life is known as a(n) …