Thinking Clearly

Critical thinkers are often faced with trying to evaluate arguments regarding political policies or various technologies. Whereas experts have developed rigorous, quantitative methods of risk-benefit assessment, most of us simply use our intuitive and emotional processing to create a feeling about the issue at hand as being either good or bad. Hosts Bob and Julia examine risk-benefit assessment as a tool for critical thinking in a discussion with Professor Daniel Cole from Indiana University.

Bob and Julia go deeper into the topic of tribalism and polarization, using audio clips from several different sources to prompt their lively back and forth discussion.

The words "tribalism" and "polarization" have become commonplace when describing recent sociopolitical trends in America. Host Bob Froehlich and guest, Philosopher, Podcaster and Master Teacher Kevin deLaplante, discuss the psychology of tribalism and the effect of increased polarization on critical thinking.

Critical thinking encompasses a wide variety of concepts and related topics. This episode reviews the high points of what past shows have covered and re-anchors some of the most important aspects of the critical thinking process to master for becoming a better critical thinker.

In this episode, Bob and Julia unpack the construct of worldview, discuss its relevance to critical thinking and demonstrate how to uncover one's own worldview and the worldviews of others.

Show hosts, Bob and Julia, demonstrate a civil dialogue as they discuss a topic about which they disagree. Even though the topic, "Humanity is Worth Saving", generates a lively discussion, the focus is on the process of civil dialogue rather than the content of the topic.  An-studio facilitator helps guide the discussion of process.

This show is part 2 of a series on "Having Civil Dialogues." Julia and Bob discuss the issue, guided by audio clips from radio host and author, Celeste Headley, social psychologist, Professor Rob Willer, and Peabody Award-winning broadcaster Krista Tippett. The question of how to integrate the principles of Civil Dialogue into the process of critical thinking is explored.

With incivility on the rise in the U.S., this episode focuses on the importance of and methods for having civil dialogues. Bob and Julia discuss the topic with Arizona State University Professors Jennifer Linde and Clark Olson, co-founders of the Institute for Civil Dialogue and co-authors of the book "Hot Topics, Cool Heads: A Handbook for Civil Dialogue."

Bob and Julia discuss the "is"/"ought" distinction and the process of recognizing and analyzing arguments that contain moral considerations, using passage of California SB 277 as an example.

Bob discusses motivated reasoning, the use of critical thinking to answer moral questions, and related topics with guest Peter Ditto, Professor of Psychology and Social Behavior at U.C. Irvine.