PROGRAM
16:15 Welcome and brief introduction
Tone Kvernbekk, Department of Education, University of Oslo.
16:20 Critical Thinking in Anti-Critical Times
Harvey Siegel, Department of Philosophy, University of Miami.
17:15 Comments
- Erik Knain, COSER/Department of Teacher Education and School Research.
- Helgard Mahrdt, HumStud/Department of Education/STK, University of Oslo.
17:30 Discussion
Abstract
What is ‘critical thinking’? Is it a good thing? If so, why? In this talk I will first review extant accounts of critical thinking (CT), compare it with other educational ideals, explicate my own account of it, and explain its status as ‘first among equals’ when compared with other justified educational ideals.
I will then address widespread anti-critical thinking, attitudes and commitments in contemporary social life. By ‘anti-critical’ thinking I mean not just thinking that fails to meet CT standards, but thinking (and associated attitudes and commitments) that reject(s) those standards as either bogus or simply irrelevant. Examples abound: climate change deniers, anti-vaxxers, creationists, religious dogmatists, and conspiracy theorists of all sorts.
While the explanation of the power and popularity of contemporary anti-critical thinking is perhaps best left to psychologists, sociologists, and other social scientists, I will urge both that anti-critical thinking is bad thinking, and that education can help ameliorate its worst effects.
Harvey Siegel is professor emeritus of philosophy at the University of Miami. He is the author of several books, including Relativism Refuted, Educating Reason, and Rationality Redeemed, as well as the editor of Reason and Education and The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Education.
Suggested reading:
- Education’s Epistemology: Rationality, Diversity and Critical Thinking. New York: Oxford University Press, 2017
- Rationality Redeemed?: Further Dialogues on an Educational Ideal. New York: Routledge, 1997