CH 4 Q2

The existence of UFOs is a wide controversy that can either be completely fake or actually real. In Condon’s passage he believes that there really has not been any real evidence to any knowledge of UFOs existence. However, Condon believes that it is a good study for scientists to consider because it is a “fruitful direction of scientific advancement.” Comparing it to Condon’s passage, Hynek also believes that the UFO reports are worth the study. There needs to be an improvement upon scientist’s research on the UFO experience. For example he says that there needs to be more psychological studies on those people who claim to have seen citings. There are many UFO citing, but it all matters if they are significantly persistent. The last doctor, was Paynter who believed that UFOs actually could be real and that scientists need to have more sufficient evidence to prove its existence.  I like Paynter’s argument because it has more common sense to it and stays between the lines of the argument.

Ch 4 Q1

Aristotle was one of the greatest philosophers known to mankind and he has created many underlying topics that many people talk about it to this day. Wisdom may be the greatest virtue, but knowledge is a little different. I feel as if wisdom is naturally attained, while knowledge is gained through learning. Through life experiences, wisdom is gained by seeing what others do. Most of the time, we acquire wisdom through our role models and people who we find relevant to our lives. For example, my parents and grandparents are people that I look up too and most of my wisdom has come from them. In college, knowledge and wisdom can be both attained. Knowledge is what we obtain from going to class and paying attention to our teachers and assignments. Wisdom as I said earlier, come from the life experiences from college such as the social aspect. The information age has made us both more knowledgeable and wiser because the technology implies instant gratification. 

Ch 4 Self-Serving Bias

After reading this little section in chapter 4, I now know what can impede my thinking and the pursuit of truth. There are three self serving biases. The first one is the misperception that we are in control. I noticed that sometimes, I do have this misperception that I am in control for instance my grade on a test. I would easily say, I knew I would fail this test but in reality I have no control over what I got wrong or right. The lotto is the perfect example of thinking we have control over the chances of winning.  A second bias that is quite common is the tendency to overestimate ourselves in comparison to others. I tend to compare myself a lot especially when it comes to school. I misjudge my capabilities and myself most frequently after a test. A last bias is the tendency to exaggerate our strengths and minimize our weaknesses. This bias tends to be used a lot also because when I describe my strengths in an interview, I tend to over exaggerate in order to make myself shine in front of the interviewers. 

Q1 CH3

In the long run, Sally Ride was an excellent critical thinker. She was known to love solving problems. Anyone who loves solving problems is a good critical thinker. She has a lot of credentials and excellent evidence that she has exemplary communication skills. She displays effective communication and is able to analyze and provide logical support. Being apart of NASA demonstrates a lot of these skills such as flexibility and tolerance for ambiguity. In result, she was able to meet her goals and achieve obstacles in the NASA field. Most importantly, she showed that she has an open-mind when she had to look for new astronauts. A lot of the critical thinking skills were all confirmed when she received many of the awards that were mentioned. Overall, Sally Ride is a role model to all because she still utilizes her thinking skills. She is a role model to all the girls that are interested in science. 

Q3 Evaluating Definitions

In my opinion, I like how Chapter 3 went thoroughly in-depth about evaluating definitions. I thought it was also interesting about how there are certain criteria that a good definition requires.  I wonder if all the definitions in any dictionary is certified from these 5 criteria. The first criteria are whether or not a good definition is neither too broad nor too narrow. My own example of a broad definition would include something broad such as defining a police officer as a regulator of the streets. The second criteria are that a good definition should state the essential attributes of the term being defined. The third is a good definition is not circular. The fourth criteria are a good a definition avoids obscure and figurative language. Lastly a good definition avoids emotive language. An example for the fifth criteria is that it uses more of a critical standpoint than an emotional one. 

Q2 Rhetorical Devices

After reading pages 82-87, I am now aware that I frequently use rhetorical devices every time I speak. In chapter 3, the authors define rhetorical devices as “the use of euphemisms, dysphemisms, hyperbole, and sarcasm to manipulate and persuade.” One form of rhetorical device that I use constantly is sarcasm. Sarcasm is the use of ridicule, insults, taunting, and/or caustic irony. One example of sarcasm I utilized in my speech was when I my friend asked if I was going to do homework on a Friday night. I simply replied with a, “Would a monkey eat an apple?” His response was just laughter and it was dismissed as humor. Another rhetorical device I use a lot is Hyperboles. An hyperbole is a rhetorical device that uses an exaggeration. This past week I used an hyperbole when I needed to use the bathroom. I said, “ I need to pee like a horse.” It was an exaggeration to distort the facts.