Writing to Identify (1)
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School
Arizona State University *
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Course
101
Subject
Philosophy
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
Pages
3
Uploaded by DeanNeutronCrab52
A.
What is the main argument of the book
The main argument of “Thinking 101” by Anh is that human reasoning is prone to many
cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias, that causes people to seek and favor
information that confirms their existing beliefs or hypotheses while ignoring
disconfirming evidence. In this chapter, Ahn argues that confirmation bias is deeply
rooted in human cognition and can have negative consequences for individuals and
society.
B.
What are the specific properties that Ahn assigns to human reasoning?
Please identify specific parts of the cited passage to support your claim.
In the book, Anh discusses how individuals tend to seek out information that confirms
their existing beliefs, as seen in the examples of the 2-4-6 task, gender imbalances in
science, and the Mozart effect. In the 2-4-6 task, the student she asked consistently
asked for evidence to confirm his theory on the pattern due to confirmation bias, and
only when he sought out evidence that disconfirmed his evidence was when those
biases were broken. She explains that this bias is a deeply ingrained habit that is
challenging to break, and points out that people are often reluctant to disconfirm their
beliefs, even when presented with contradictory evidence.
C.
What evidence does Ahn reference to support her main argument?
Please cite and analyze specific passages from the book to support
your claim.
Evidence 1 - "The problem with the 2–4–6 task is that while people search for
confirming evidence, disconfirming evidence does not cross their minds. To most
people, it seems apparent that “2–4–6” is counting up by two; they quickly throw out any
ideas that don’t conform to this hypothesis. This example is used to illustrate how
confirmation bias operates in individuals' reasoning. People tend to look for evidence
that confirms their existing hypotheses while ignoring or dismissing disconfirming
evidence.
Evidence 2: “The researchers behind the Mozart effect reported that after listening to
Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos (for classical music fans it is K. 448), college students
scored higher on a spatial reasoning test compared to those who hadn’t listened to the
music. The mass media took this finding to the next level, interpreting it as scientific
evidence that babies who listen to Mozart develop higher IQs." The evidence is seen in
how mass media and even state governors embraced and promoted the Mozart effect,
believing that listening to Mozart could enhance intelligence.This example shows that
confirmation bias can lead to the adoption of ideas or practices even when the
supporting evidence is limited. People, driven by the confirmation bias, are more likely
to accept ideas that confirm their preconceived beliefs.
D.
What type of audience would be persuaded by Ahn's argument? Please
explain how you drew your conclusion(s) by citing and analyzing
specific passages from the textual argument.
The audience that would be most persuaded by Ahn's argument is likely to be
individuals interested in cognitive psychology, critical thinking, and decision-making
processes. Her book targets readers who are open to self-improvement, personal
growth, and developing better reasoning skills. In the “2-4-6” task, Ahn urges readers to
"break the habit of confirmation" by becoming aware of their cognitive biases and
thinking critically, which aligns with the values of those open to self-improvement and
better reasoning skills. Those who value evidence-based reasoning and are willing to
challenge their own cognitive biases would be more inclined to find Ahn's argument
persuasive.
E.
Why would the audience you identified find the main argument
persuasive? Please identify the reasons why a person or group of
people would find the argument persuasive by citing and analyzing
passages from the textual argument.
Readers who appreciate Ahn's argument may find it persuasive because she provides
compelling real-life examples, research findings, and logical explanations to
demonstrate the prevalence and detrimental effects of confirmation bias. She cites
reports, such as a “ 2020 report from Citibank group [which] quantified the ways that
race-based discrimination and a lack of equal opportunity hurts America. Had our
society invested equally in the education, housing, wages, and businesses of both white
and Black Americans over the past twenty years, America would have been $16 trillion
richer.” These references to logical explanations make the argument persuasive.
F.
What situation is Ahn responding to or attempting to shape with her
argument? Specifically, what situation is she trying to change and how
does she know if she has been successful? Please cite and analyze
specific passages from the textual argument to support your claims.
Ahn is responding to a situation where people often make decisions and form beliefs
based on confirmation bias, leading to flawed reasoning, stereotypes, and irrational
behaviors. She seeks to change this situation by raising awareness of confirmation bias
and providing readers with strategies to recognize and overcome this cognitive bias in
their thinking processes, such as practicing “disconfirming your assumptions about
low-risk, everyday things by introducing some randomness into your life”. She knows
she’s somewhat successful when she tests experiments such as the 2-4-6 task on her
students, and makes them realize about their preexisting confirmation biases.
G.
How do you know Ahn is responding to or attempting to shape a
situation with her argument? Please cite and analyze the specific
properties that Ahn assigns to human reasoning in
Thinking 101
.
By highlighting how confirmation bias influences decisions, education, and gender
stereotypes, describing how, “The truth is analogous to the 'any increasing number'
answer to the 2–4–6 problem: both men and women can be good at science. But our
society has fallen for confirmation bias when it comes to men and science, Anh
demonstrates her intent to shape a situation regarding how detrimental confirmation
bias is in society.
What thoughts, feelings, or actions is the writer trying to produce in her audience
(based on what you’ve identified about the audience in previous steps)? Please
cite and analyze specific passages from the textual argument to support your
claims.
Ahn aims to stimulate critical thinking and inspire readers to challenge their own biases
and take more rational actions. In the 2–4–6 Task, Ahn encourages readers to
recognize the limitations of their reasoning when attempting to recognize a pattern.
Similarly, in the “Quiz” section, Anh asks “what is the best conclusion one can draw from
these data?”, based on an experiment on self esteem and leadership qualities. These
little sections showcase how the writer is trying to make readers challenge their own
thoughts.
H.
How did Ahn produce those thoughts, feelings, or actions in her
audience with her choice of words, the types of claims she makes, the
conclusions she draws, or the futures she imagines? Please cite and
analyze specific passages from the textual argument to support your
claims.
Ahn achieves these outcomes through her choice of words, the use of relatable
examples, and the clear explanations of cognitive biases. She guides readers to see the
potential pitfalls of confirmation bias using the 2-4-6 task, and then explains how “The
problem with the 2–4–6 task is that while people search for confirming evidence,
disconfirming evidence does not cross their minds. To most people, it seems apparent
that “2–4–6” is counting up by two; they quickly throw out any ideas that don’t conform
to this hypothesis.” This conclusion she draws about the 2-4-6 task helps explain to her
audience how disconfirming evidence is essential to eliminating confirmation bias.
I.
What thoughts, feelings, or actions might occur if the audience finds
Ahn's argument persuasive? Please cite and analyze the specific
properties in the argument that support your conclusions.
If the audience finds Ahn's argument persuasive, they might shift their thinking and become
more open to recognizing and challenging confirmation bias in their own lives. This could lead to
more critical and evidence-based approaches to decision-making and societal issues, where
readers may “ask a question framed in two opposite ways” or “randomly pick an item from the
menu”, that can help them strain away from confirmation biases.
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