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Lessons from Critical Thinkers: Methods for Clear Thinking and Analysis in Everyday Situations from the Greatest Thinkers in History
Do you want to ask smart questions like Socrates or be an out-of-the-box thinker like John Stuart Mill and rational like Descartes?
These people have at least one thing in They were great critical thinkers of their time, and their shared wisdom lived through the centuries.
Lessons from Critical Thinkers provides intellectual power to engage with and participate in effective critical thoughts, arguments, debates, reading, and reflection drawn from methods in the history of philosophical cognitive development.
Learn to think slowly and deliberately before making a decision Get ready to question opinions and even facts Learn to gather information before jumping to conclusions Accept and expect the biased and flawed nature of human cognition Lessons from Critical Thinkers gives you a thorough presentation of the ideas and principles of critical thinking practiced by the greatest minds in history. Learn about the most important critical thinking methods to make better decisions in your personal life, career, and friendships.
Equip yourself with the essential methods for clear, analytical, logical thinking and critique in a range of ideas and everyday situations.
Discover critical thinking by familiarizing yourself with concepts from other disciplines, like philosophy, cognitive biases and errors, race and gender from sociology and political science, and symbols from rhetoric Apply critical thinking and reasoning skills to your day-to-day problems Find the most rewarding options in any opportunity Lessons from Critical Thinkers is a helpful audiobook for listeners of any age and background who want to improve their critical thinking skills by learning from the greatest thinkers of all time. Learn to filter out irrelevant information efficiently and prioritize your resources to get the best results. Enhance your communication skills, reasoning, and logic.
Improve your critical, logical, observational, and rational thinking skills with the timeless principles presented in this book.
These people have at least one thing in They were great critical thinkers of their time, and their shared wisdom lived through the centuries.
Lessons from Critical Thinkers provides intellectual power to engage with and participate in effective critical thoughts, arguments, debates, reading, and reflection drawn from methods in the history of philosophical cognitive development.
Learn to think slowly and deliberately before making a decision Get ready to question opinions and even facts Learn to gather information before jumping to conclusions Accept and expect the biased and flawed nature of human cognition Lessons from Critical Thinkers gives you a thorough presentation of the ideas and principles of critical thinking practiced by the greatest minds in history. Learn about the most important critical thinking methods to make better decisions in your personal life, career, and friendships.
Equip yourself with the essential methods for clear, analytical, logical thinking and critique in a range of ideas and everyday situations.
Discover critical thinking by familiarizing yourself with concepts from other disciplines, like philosophy, cognitive biases and errors, race and gender from sociology and political science, and symbols from rhetoric Apply critical thinking and reasoning skills to your day-to-day problems Find the most rewarding options in any opportunity Lessons from Critical Thinkers is a helpful audiobook for listeners of any age and background who want to improve their critical thinking skills by learning from the greatest thinkers of all time. Learn to filter out irrelevant information efficiently and prioritize your resources to get the best results. Enhance your communication skills, reasoning, and logic.
Improve your critical, logical, observational, and rational thinking skills with the timeless principles presented in this book.
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Published January 30, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 21, 2022
I enjoyed learning about Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Xenophon, Francis Bacon, Thomas Aquinas, Rene’ Descartes, John Stuart Mill, William Graham Sumner, Richard & Paul Elder, and Immanuel Kant. All of these great philosophers played a pivotal role in philosophy, thus helping mankind in so many ways. The Aristotelian, Cartesian, and the Kantian philosophies were great to read about. Amazing book!
August 24, 2019
Brief summary on how the great minds contributed to the evolution of society through new philosophical concepts. Huge fan of Descartes Cartesian doubt and how it’s applicable with trying to overcome logical fallacies and perceived facts formed through personal biases. Dubito, ergo cogito, ergo sum ✌🏻
November 11, 2019
Socrates, Plato, Kant, Mills, oh my! A quick, light cardio session for your brain. Rutherford concisely lays out a brief overview of the life and works of ancient to contemporary philosophers, offering key takeaways that have resonated over time.
February 3, 2022
This isn't a review but some notes to go back to
Socrates and Aristotle
- Socrates exists on accounts of his students: Plato and Xenophon
- Socratic Method - question everything mindset - finds flaws in ppls arguments which he employed
- Socratic questioning- six types
1. Clarification questions - "what do u mean when u say that?"
2. Assumption questions - "why do we think this?" Or "what other options could we assume"?
3. Perspective questions - ask for a counterargument or use a different view
4. Reason/evidence questions - ask for specific examples or explanations
5. Consequence questions - "what are the implications for this argument?" Or "how will this affect this group of people?"
6. Meta-questions - "why are you asking this?" Or "what is the point of your question?"
- Elements of thought by Richard Paul and Linda Elder interwoven Socratic method - asking about foundations of thought
- Aristotle
Wrote the metaphysics
- argued everyone has a thirst for knowledge - interested in learning for the sake of knowing
- philosophical and abstract thinking
- definitions: organised into genus and diaphora (broad and narrow)
Syllogism and deductive logic
- "all" or "none" premises - universal propositions
- "some" premises - particular propositions
Thomas Aquinas
Founded "Thomism" - reason is found in god
Truth is "objective and discoverable"
- either through natural revelation or supernatural revelation - both equally valid
Address all logical counter arguments and address them within text
- cross-examination - used in courtrooms - allowed room to interrogate logic and roots of beliefs without rejecting beliefs itself
Scholastic disputation - debate with himself
Aquinas ideas
Free will
- directly tied to ppls rationality
- more rational u think, the more you're able to determine your path in life
Diversity
- cultural relativity of morality
Narrow-mindedness
- is bad
Equality of liberty among men
Risk
- necessary
Have independent thought and action
- don't let others influence ur argument
Faith and reason
- fundamental ways to understand true nature of the world and God
- fusing Aristotle with Christian ideas
- 5 proofs for existence of God (The Five Ways)
1. Argument of the unmoved mover
2. Argument of first cause
3. Argument from contingency
4. Argument from degree
5. Argument from design (teological argument)
Sir Francis Bacon
- father of induction - considered deductive method out of date
- "idols" - human error - conformation bias etc
- idols of the tribe, idols of the cave, idols of the marketplace, idols of the theatre etc.
- helped found the scientific method
Rene Descartes
Doubt everything
- have absolute knowledge of thing
Analytical than empirical - so knowledge can be gained at home than in a lab
errors come from human willwhich forms opinions and judgements with incomplete knowledge
Doubt our senses - hallucinations, memories, dreams etc
1. Don't take things as true unless it's clear and recognisable as such
2. Divide your ideas reasoning into smaller chunks to make it manageable
3. Start with simplest form and move to more complicated
4. Always keep up-to-date and repeat method
Cartesian doubt has
- analytical-heuristic model
Cartesian method - fundamental pillar of Pholilosphy of Caution
Immanuel Kant
Humans can derive morality from reason
- bridges gap between rationalism and empiricism
- humans share basic structural features: of time, space, cause and effect
Our experiences are conveyed by our senses
- without access to the "noumenal world" or innate nature of the things
Believed critical thinking main purpose was criticism than justifying knowledge
- critical philosophy
Think critically means think for yourself
- questions shan't be too unconventional I.e. medical technician shouldn't use poison to "try it out" - "private use of one's reason"
Understanding limits of reason and human knowledge
Defined judgements of prior experience as "a priori" and judgements based on sensory perception "a posteriori"
categorical imperative
- ethical theory where actor would be happy of everyone were to do the same action
- positioned work in direct conversation with empiricist David Hume
Kant called experience "phenomena" as opposed to "noumena"
- our minds have structural-imperative abilities which make reality perceptible to us
- structure include space, time, substance (or existence)
- can never know true nature of reality but learn from experience and create wide body of knowledge
Judgements
- analytical and synthetic- "dogs are animals" is analytical because it's negation "dogs are not animals" will make ppl give looks and co tradictory. "That dress is green" is synthetic because it's negation "that dress is not green" is still logically consistent
Our minds make synthetic a priori judgements
- we add our existing knowledge with new sensory observations - which we put into categories like "cause and effect" to make it digestible
Believed in god to cope with everyday struggles despite proving it outside our boundaries of knowledge
Good will
- feel an obligation to always be good instead of just performing good on a whim
- categorical imperative
- what is right is universal
John Stuart Mill
Was taught by his father to think crticially
- relied on Socratic method
JS Mill hated rote memorization as a result of his father's method
Read the works of David Ricardo who was one of the founder of clasilsical economics, and then to Adam Smith
- his father made John compare two texts and give flaws in Adam Smith's text in light of reading Riccardo
Utilitarian
- harm principle - do whatever as long as you're not harming others
- People's liberty shouldn't be dictated by the masses or tyrannical government
States interest and peoples liberty
- people know theor own interest - freedom of speech - allows ppl to critically reason what's best for them and society
- Similar to John Locke except Mills didn't believe in "natural rights" - Mills followed Benthams utilitarian philosophy (most good for the most amount of ppl - and individual liberty achieved that goal)
- Higher pleasure of knowledge and moral is better than like drinking or dancing - education and freedom necessary to pursue higher pleasures
Progressive
- feminist (The Subjugation of Women - wrote women should have equal rights, working professions, treated equal in legal system), abolition of slavery, political equality, encouraged birth control , environmentalist with industrialisation criticisms
William Graham Sumner
Founder of sociology
- like Mills, thought school created cookie cutter clones and discouraged critical thinking
- teacher need to be well informed as students
Folkways
- the role if social mores, customs and conventions are taken for granted (which he called folkways)
Ethnocentrism
- looking at the world through one's own cultural viewpoint- applied to any race or social group
Social norms evolved independently from government
- therefore government reforming society is useless
Is mistaken as supporter of Social Darwinism
- Believed society as Cyclical than linear
Believed in gender equality, divorce, humane treatment of sex workers and women's rights - still had Victorian ideas about family unit
Critical society
- integrates critical thinking in everyday life of its members
Albert Einstein had the same prescription regarding using education system to encourage critical thinking
Founders of social science
Richard Paul and Linda Elder
Socrates and Aristotle
- Socrates exists on accounts of his students: Plato and Xenophon
- Socratic Method - question everything mindset - finds flaws in ppls arguments which he employed
- Socratic questioning- six types
1. Clarification questions - "what do u mean when u say that?"
2. Assumption questions - "why do we think this?" Or "what other options could we assume"?
3. Perspective questions - ask for a counterargument or use a different view
4. Reason/evidence questions - ask for specific examples or explanations
5. Consequence questions - "what are the implications for this argument?" Or "how will this affect this group of people?"
6. Meta-questions - "why are you asking this?" Or "what is the point of your question?"
- Elements of thought by Richard Paul and Linda Elder interwoven Socratic method - asking about foundations of thought
- Aristotle
Wrote the metaphysics
- argued everyone has a thirst for knowledge - interested in learning for the sake of knowing
- philosophical and abstract thinking
- definitions: organised into genus and diaphora (broad and narrow)
Syllogism and deductive logic
- "all" or "none" premises - universal propositions
- "some" premises - particular propositions
Thomas Aquinas
Founded "Thomism" - reason is found in god
Truth is "objective and discoverable"
- either through natural revelation or supernatural revelation - both equally valid
Address all logical counter arguments and address them within text
- cross-examination - used in courtrooms - allowed room to interrogate logic and roots of beliefs without rejecting beliefs itself
Scholastic disputation - debate with himself
Aquinas ideas
Free will
- directly tied to ppls rationality
- more rational u think, the more you're able to determine your path in life
Diversity
- cultural relativity of morality
Narrow-mindedness
- is bad
Equality of liberty among men
Risk
- necessary
Have independent thought and action
- don't let others influence ur argument
Faith and reason
- fundamental ways to understand true nature of the world and God
- fusing Aristotle with Christian ideas
- 5 proofs for existence of God (The Five Ways)
1. Argument of the unmoved mover
2. Argument of first cause
3. Argument from contingency
4. Argument from degree
5. Argument from design (teological argument)
Sir Francis Bacon
- father of induction - considered deductive method out of date
- "idols" - human error - conformation bias etc
- idols of the tribe, idols of the cave, idols of the marketplace, idols of the theatre etc.
- helped found the scientific method
Rene Descartes
Doubt everything
- have absolute knowledge of thing
Analytical than empirical - so knowledge can be gained at home than in a lab
errors come from human willwhich forms opinions and judgements with incomplete knowledge
Doubt our senses - hallucinations, memories, dreams etc
1. Don't take things as true unless it's clear and recognisable as such
2. Divide your ideas reasoning into smaller chunks to make it manageable
3. Start with simplest form and move to more complicated
4. Always keep up-to-date and repeat method
Cartesian doubt has
- analytical-heuristic model
Cartesian method - fundamental pillar of Pholilosphy of Caution
Immanuel Kant
Humans can derive morality from reason
- bridges gap between rationalism and empiricism
- humans share basic structural features: of time, space, cause and effect
Our experiences are conveyed by our senses
- without access to the "noumenal world" or innate nature of the things
Believed critical thinking main purpose was criticism than justifying knowledge
- critical philosophy
Think critically means think for yourself
- questions shan't be too unconventional I.e. medical technician shouldn't use poison to "try it out" - "private use of one's reason"
Understanding limits of reason and human knowledge
Defined judgements of prior experience as "a priori" and judgements based on sensory perception "a posteriori"
categorical imperative
- ethical theory where actor would be happy of everyone were to do the same action
- positioned work in direct conversation with empiricist David Hume
Kant called experience "phenomena" as opposed to "noumena"
- our minds have structural-imperative abilities which make reality perceptible to us
- structure include space, time, substance (or existence)
- can never know true nature of reality but learn from experience and create wide body of knowledge
Judgements
- analytical and synthetic- "dogs are animals" is analytical because it's negation "dogs are not animals" will make ppl give looks and co tradictory. "That dress is green" is synthetic because it's negation "that dress is not green" is still logically consistent
Our minds make synthetic a priori judgements
- we add our existing knowledge with new sensory observations - which we put into categories like "cause and effect" to make it digestible
Believed in god to cope with everyday struggles despite proving it outside our boundaries of knowledge
Good will
- feel an obligation to always be good instead of just performing good on a whim
- categorical imperative
- what is right is universal
John Stuart Mill
Was taught by his father to think crticially
- relied on Socratic method
JS Mill hated rote memorization as a result of his father's method
Read the works of David Ricardo who was one of the founder of clasilsical economics, and then to Adam Smith
- his father made John compare two texts and give flaws in Adam Smith's text in light of reading Riccardo
Utilitarian
- harm principle - do whatever as long as you're not harming others
- People's liberty shouldn't be dictated by the masses or tyrannical government
States interest and peoples liberty
- people know theor own interest - freedom of speech - allows ppl to critically reason what's best for them and society
- Similar to John Locke except Mills didn't believe in "natural rights" - Mills followed Benthams utilitarian philosophy (most good for the most amount of ppl - and individual liberty achieved that goal)
- Higher pleasure of knowledge and moral is better than like drinking or dancing - education and freedom necessary to pursue higher pleasures
Progressive
- feminist (The Subjugation of Women - wrote women should have equal rights, working professions, treated equal in legal system), abolition of slavery, political equality, encouraged birth control , environmentalist with industrialisation criticisms
William Graham Sumner
Founder of sociology
- like Mills, thought school created cookie cutter clones and discouraged critical thinking
- teacher need to be well informed as students
Folkways
- the role if social mores, customs and conventions are taken for granted (which he called folkways)
Ethnocentrism
- looking at the world through one's own cultural viewpoint- applied to any race or social group
Social norms evolved independently from government
- therefore government reforming society is useless
Is mistaken as supporter of Social Darwinism
- Believed society as Cyclical than linear
Believed in gender equality, divorce, humane treatment of sex workers and women's rights - still had Victorian ideas about family unit
Critical society
- integrates critical thinking in everyday life of its members
Albert Einstein had the same prescription regarding using education system to encourage critical thinking
Founders of social science
Richard Paul and Linda Elder
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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July 7, 2020Truth could be reached much faster without taking first impressions for granted, and instead thinking critically
A Socratic questioner should be comfortable asking questions that keep the conversation moving
Six types of Socratic questioning are: Clarification, Assumption, Perspective, Evidence, Consequence, Questions about questions
Teaching is a good way to improve one's own critical thinking
Mill believed individuals who pursued the higher pleasures would be happier than those who pursued the lower ones. If someone pursues the higher pleasures, they will also contribute more to the good of society
You should never take pride in intellectual skills, but instead recognize that they can always be improved upon
Have the courage to investigate difficult questions and pursue intellectually rigorous answers
Others come from different perspectives, have different struggles, and hold different assumptions when in the process of thinking critically
Even if your reasoning doesn't work out at first, keep working until you are satisfied. Don't give up
To become more reasonable, you first need to admit that you have flaws. Say, "I'm willing to change my mind."
Training the brain is like training for a sport
The most important quality of the critical thinker is being open to change, while still feeling confident in your ability to find the truth
A Socratic questioner should be comfortable asking questions that keep the conversation moving
Six types of Socratic questioning are: Clarification, Assumption, Perspective, Evidence, Consequence, Questions about questions
Teaching is a good way to improve one's own critical thinking
Mill believed individuals who pursued the higher pleasures would be happier than those who pursued the lower ones. If someone pursues the higher pleasures, they will also contribute more to the good of society
You should never take pride in intellectual skills, but instead recognize that they can always be improved upon
Have the courage to investigate difficult questions and pursue intellectually rigorous answers
Others come from different perspectives, have different struggles, and hold different assumptions when in the process of thinking critically
Even if your reasoning doesn't work out at first, keep working until you are satisfied. Don't give up
To become more reasonable, you first need to admit that you have flaws. Say, "I'm willing to change my mind."
Training the brain is like training for a sport
The most important quality of the critical thinker is being open to change, while still feeling confident in your ability to find the truth
April 1, 2023
"Lessons from Critical Thinkers" serves as an excellent introductory resource for those interested in delving into the world of critical thinking. The book references a multitude of beliefs and concepts that readers can later explore in greater depth, making it a valuable starting point for developing one's critical thinking skills. With its accessible language and comprehensive coverage of the topic, this book is a great tool for anyone looking to enhance their reasoning abilities and approach problems with a more analytical mindset. Overall, "Lessons from Critical Thinkers" is a worthwhile read for anyone seeking to become a more effective and informed thinker.
March 29, 2021
I love philosophy, and Albert Rutherford has become one of my new favorite authors on critical thinking. This book is a great blend of philosophy and critical thinking, and it's a super short read. It's important to keep our thinking sharp, and there are some great thinkers we can learn from, so I highly recommend this book.
June 1, 2023
Wish I came across this book back in college!
A brief summary on the major critical thinkers/ philosophers from Socrates, Plato, Aristotle to the 21st century (each marked by their own historical period). I also love how the author illustrates the impact each thinker has on modern society. It is pretty neat and a fun read, highly recommend!
A brief summary on the major critical thinkers/ philosophers from Socrates, Plato, Aristotle to the 21st century (each marked by their own historical period). I also love how the author illustrates the impact each thinker has on modern society. It is pretty neat and a fun read, highly recommend!
June 10, 2019
A brief description on the contributions of Philosophers
It's short, easy and clear. I would have liked to analyse some examples of discussions in depth, but it's a good book to keep at hand.
It's short, easy and clear. I would have liked to analyse some examples of discussions in depth, but it's a good book to keep at hand.
April 9, 2021
Easy read, good book
This is a practical, approachable book. Not overly academic. Discussed some philosophical history and ends with a good set of suggestions on practicing critical thinking.
This is a practical, approachable book. Not overly academic. Discussed some philosophical history and ends with a good set of suggestions on practicing critical thinking.
May 4, 2021
How to start and build new habit.
I am completely new with these idea and my words and communication are all right but I am searching in need of guidance on how to deal day to day activities and invest in yourself to improve.
I am completely new with these idea and my words and communication are all right but I am searching in need of guidance on how to deal day to day activities and invest in yourself to improve.
August 20, 2019
A great overview of the greatest philosophers, thinkers and behavioral scientists on critical thinking...from the Greeks to present day.
October 15, 2022
basic and simple presentation of the model of thought of some philosophers, easy to read.
May 7, 2023
Very enjoyable
Very enjoyable read and I good self reflection on one’s own way of thinking.
I do highly recommend anyone that has a interested in this area to read this book.
Very enjoyable read and I good self reflection on one’s own way of thinking.
I do highly recommend anyone that has a interested in this area to read this book.
January 3, 2024
While there was some solid groundwork and consumable summaries of complex concepts, the book ended up muddled and repetitive as a whole due to oversimplification of concepts and ill fitting examples.
March 22, 2024
Good foundational reading
This book kept me engaged the entire time. I'm excited to go on this journey of critical thinking. A must read. It laid a good foundation.
This book kept me engaged the entire time. I'm excited to go on this journey of critical thinking. A must read. It laid a good foundation.
May 8, 2024
First time reading this book I have become most interested in Aquinas, Bacon, and Descartes. I’ll give this one at least one more read later on. As of now I got The Aquinas Catechism by St. Thomas Aquinas and Key Philosophical Writings by René Descartes.
November 9, 2025
Very wonderful book, makes you think
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews