Week 2 Journal
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Lone Star College System, Woodlands *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
347
Subject
Philosophy
Date
Jan 9, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
5
Uploaded by caithomasadn
1
Week 2 Journal
Caitlin Thomas
Chamberlain University
Phil 347: Critical Reasoning
Dr. Barkauskas
November 12, 2023
2
Important Idea
Considering only the Introduction to Chapter 5, in terms of developing critical thinking and
reasoning, what do you consider is the most valuable and important idea in that section? You
can either summarize or directly quote the text; then, briefly explain why you find this idea
important and valuable.
I found the statement in the section, "Our goal is to analyze exactly what people’s claims are and the reasons they use to establish them as worthy of acceptance” (Facione & Gittens, 2016), to be the most valuable and important idea. This assertion holds great significance, as it highlights the need to understand an individual's claims before dismissing them as unworthy. Often, we tend to disregard other people's opinions and thoughts solely because they do not align
with our beliefs or values. This approach can lead to narrow-mindedness and a lack of empathy. However, by having an open mind and analyzing their claims and reasons, we can better comprehend their thought processes and foster a deeper understanding of their perspective.
Critical Thinking
In Chapter 5, the section "Making Arguments" states: "In some ways applying our core critical
thinking skills to analysis can be more difficult than offering an evaluative opinion. Analysis, like
interpretation, is understanding at a deep level (p. 89)" What concepts discussed in Chapter 4
might make analysis of a statement difficult – and why?
Chapter 4 delves into the topic of statement analysis, specifically focusing on potential challenges such as vagueness and ambiguity that can create misunderstandings in communication and context. Vagueness is characterized by a lack of clarity or certainty in communication and context. For instance, the statement "The store is down the street on the
3
right" is vague because it does not specify the direction on the street to go or the exact distance to
the store. To avoid confusion, it is crucial to provide additional details when describing the location of the store. Ambiguity, on the other hand, is a statement that can have multiple interpretations, leading to misunderstandings. An example of an ambiguous statement is "The woman sat at the table with a broken leg." The statement is ambiguous because one could interpret it as the woman having a broken leg, while another person might interpret it as the table having a broken leg. The statement needs to be more specific. Facione & Gittens (2016) suggest that the best way to eliminate vagueness and ambiguity is by analyzing the communication to draw reasonable inferences about the context and purpose. Although these concepts can make analyzing statements difficult, they can be resolved through the use of critical thinking skills.
Beliefs
Why do you believe what you believe? What is your "evidence"?
I embrace a newer age neopagan-style spirituality that centers around respecting the earth
and nature as a higher power, while giving significant acknowledgment to astronomy and astrology. Although it does not align with the major monotheistic religious beliefs, I believe in these spiritual concepts because they provide tangible proof of truth. I can observe the earth, moon, stars, and planets with my own eyes and touch the earth with my own hands. The proof of the earth's existence is undeniable. I believe that the earth is a living entity and that acts of nature
are more powerful than human existence, capable of both giving and taking life. I can see evidence of nature's power starting from the smallest microorganisms and expanding to the largest macro-level ecosystems.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
4
Layers of Why
Claim: Nurses should always perform hand hygiene Layer 1: Nurses should always wash their hands between clients, no matter the level of care, because hand hygiene prevents the spread of disease.
Layer 2: It keeps the client safe because, without it, pathogens can be transferred from one person to another. Layer 3: I believe my last statement is true because if the nurse has contaminated hands, the pathogens will be transferred to any surface they touch. Many healthcare-associated infections come from improper hand hygiene by healthcare providers (Potter et al., 2020). Layer 4: All healthcare providers need to be educated on the transmission of pathogens and the importance of performing hand hygiene while caring for clients. Often health care providers will disregard hand hygiene if they do not touch a client or if they wear gloves, however, the surfaces in the client's room, such as door handles, can also harbor pathogens. Some healthcare providers believe that gloves are enough to protect against disease, however, hand hygiene has been proven
to be the most effective method to prevent the spread of disease (Potter et al., 2020).
Safety and evidence-based practice is very important to me. I will always make sure to use hand sanitizer before entering a client's room, before leaving a client’s room, and when touching a surface after caring for a client.
5
References
Facione, P. & Gittens, C. (2016). Think critically (3rd ed.). Boston: Pearson
Potter, P. A., Perry, A. G., Stockert, P., & Hall, A. (2020). Fundamentals of Nursing. Elsevier.