Glossary of Critical Thinking Terms

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argument

A rationale or information structure that includes reasons for believing in some conclusion

autonomy in thinking

"Autonomy in thinking" refers to maintaining awareness, choice, and self-governance about the qualities of one's thinking one wishes to keep or change.

claim

A statement that is asserted as true with an argumentative or explanatory rationale. A Claim can be a premise or a conclusion.

conclusion

A claim in an argumentative or explanatory context. In arguments, conclusions are claims are the part of the rationale for which the premises provide reasons. In explanations, the conclusion is the claim that the explanation pruports to explain.

explanation

A rationale in which some phenomena or fact (stated in the conclusion) is

rationale

Any information structure in which reasons or explanations are offered for a claim (the conclusion).

reason

Within critical thinking, a reason is any consideration or evidence that helps support an inference to a conclusion.

reflective/deliberative context

Any situation (face-to-face or mediated) in which reasons are offered for conclusions.