Logic, Reason and Critical Thinking, Class 1: Period 4, Thursday, September 3

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

When all of her students had filed in, Miss Bennet shut the door. "Welcome," she said, "to Logic, Reason, and Critical Thinking, which is quite the lofty title, I confess. It is my hope that class will live up to that ideal, but I do hope you will bear with your humble instructor as we fall short of perfection."

As she talked, she crossed the front of the room to her desk, seating herself on the front edge of it. "In this class, we are going to discuss ways in which to be mindful of our thoughts. I would not expect any of you to be perfectly reasonable automatons, never swayed in the least by emotion, nor do I consider that something to strive towards. But neither should we be creatures entirely ruled by our emotions, without the least awareness of how those emotions can and do influence our thoughts, our behaviors, and our beliefs.

"The truth is that, in many cases, what seems 'obvious' to one person is patently ridiculous to another, because the first is letting his passions sway his judgment. There are decisions that can only be made by the heart, but there are others where a cool, detached approach will serve far better. And in any instance, it seems preferable - to me, at least, I should say - to know one's heart and one's head, with as little bias as possible, before deciding which to pursue."

"The real difficulty with logic is man's capacity for self-deception. We can hold tightly to a belief, invest our very souls in its truth, and refuse to accept evidence that might challenge that belief. For example, if one of you adamantly believed the sky to be green, then he might dismiss all photographs of a blue sky as being doctored. Taking him outside to show him the blue overhead might be met with a statement that it's far too cloudy today to discern anything properly. This example is patently ridiculous, and yet the pattern is all too familiar. We don't believe that that gentleman paying court is a scoundrel, for we like the way he kisses our hand. We refuse to see that our favorite hobby is dangerous, becase we are too fond of it to consider retirement. We want something to be true so badly that to us, it is true; all evidence to the contrary is simply lies and deceit."

"A special subset of this is what's known as the self-fulfilling prophecy. Fiction is particularly fond of this device, usually in a futuristic, ironic manner -- someone hears a prophecy, tries to circumvent it, and ends up tragically causing it instead. The reality is usually more mundane. A girl wakes up one morning, and reads her horoscope, which tells her that she's going to have a simply miserable day. She is immediately in a pessimistic mood. All day, when the littlest thing goes wrong, she says to herself, 'I knew it. I knew today would be awful.' And it is. But she may not even realize that it's only awful because she decided, when she awoke, that it was going to be."

She clasped her hands in front of herself. "We are going to start by introducing ourselves, naturally, as that seems tradition for the first week, and it allows us to know one another better. I should like to know your name, your class year, and why it is that you chose to take this course. Further, if you would be so kind, I should like for us to discuss self-deception and self-fulfilling prophecies, as both are matters we must be aware of, should we wish to engage in logical, rational thinking."

Comments

Sign In! [LOG-1]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

Like the mature, clear-headed thinker that you are.

Re: Sign In! [LOG-1]

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Rose Hathaway

During the Lecture [LOG-1]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

Take notes, chat (BRIEFLY) with your fellow students, and wonder at what you've gotten yourself into.

On your best behavior, please, should you not wish detention (http://clevermsbennet.livejournal.com/16248.html).

Re: During the Lecture [LOG-1]

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Oh geez. Rose wasn't even sure she could follow what the heck Miss Bennet was talking about. Lissa was the brain, not Rose.

She tried to glance around the class, subtly looking for someone she could get to explain all this later.

Re: During the Lecture [LOG-1]

[not_tylerdurden]

Calvin was actually taking very careful notes. Mostly because Hobbes had made it clear it was the best way to avoid a pouncing when he came back to his room.

Re: During the Lecture [LOG-1]

[furnaceface]

Jonothon had once again staked out a seat near the back of the class, and he was paying rapt attention to the lecture right on up to the part where the teacher announced it was time for more of those ruddy introductions.

That was about the point where he sank a little more deeply into his seat and wondered if there was any chance at all that they might skip right on over him.

Re: During the Lecture [LOG-1]

[future_sandworm]

As always, Miss Bennet expressed herself in a clear way, which Leto appreciated. He listened attentively to what she had to say.

Re: During the Lecture [LOG-1]

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

This was quite a contrast to Claire's other classes. She was taking notes and hoped that this class would be beneficial.

Re: During the Lecture [LOG-1]

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

Penelope diligently took notes. She enjoyed Miss Bennet's classes and was all too glad to be taking another and this her senior year.

Re: During the Lecture [LOG-1]

[cataclysmicluck.livejournal.com]

Zayne had his datapad out and was taking pretty extensive notes.

It was going to be one of those classes. Not that he was complaining.

Introductions [LOG-1]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

"I'll start," Miss Bennet volunteered. "My name is Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I have no class year, but I can share why it is that I wished to teach this course. My father places a great emphasis on logic and rationality, which is a stark contrast to my mother, who indulges in flights of fancy and complains a great deal about her 'nerves.' My elder sister and I favour our father's viewpoint, but my younger siblings are more inclined towards my mother's approach. I feel that the ability to think, consciously, about one's behavior and actions can never be a fault, and wished to impart some of those lessons to my students."

Her eyes twinkled with amusement. "This also gave me a very good excuse to do research on the matter, and pretend that that was for a Cause and not to satisfy my own curiosity."

She pointed to a student, entirely at random. "You, please. Would you be so kind as to go next?"

(Name, year, and reason you took the class. Please feel free to ping one another here haphazardly to discuss responses! Messy is what we aim for!)

Re: Introductions [LOG-1]

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"I'm Rose Hathaway," she said. "Senior, and I - um, no offense, I totally didn't sign up for the class. My old headmistress did, and she probably thinks I need to be more logical and rational and stuff."

And stuff. This was a great critical thinker here.

Re: Introductions [LOG-1]

[not_tylerdurden]

"I'm Calvin," he said. "I'm a junior, and I'm taking this class because Hobbes thought it sounded interesting."

There may have been some suggestion. With teeth.

Re: Introductions [LOG-1]

[future_sandworm]

Leto Atreides," he said. "I'm a senior, and I signed up for this class because logic and critical thinking is an important tool to learn." Particularly as a ruler.

Re: Introductions [LOG-1]

[officetightass]

It was so sad, but there was part of Angela that loved being able to introduce herself and make a good impression.

"My name is Angela Martin, I'm a junior, and I'm taking this class because I think logic is something that's sorely lacking in most people and I fully support any class meant to force some common sense into them."

Re: Introductions [LOG-1]

[furnaceface]

If he was already half wedged between his desk and his seat by the time his turn rolled around, then Jonothon clearly hadn't been trying hard enough to get himself well and truly stuck there, and he deserved every bit of that awkward twist of fire in his bionuclear gut when the attention shifted to him.

//I'm Jonothon Starsmore. Junior class. And this course was on my schedule when I got here, so... here I am.//

Apparently it was possible to mumble telepathically.

Re: Introductions [LOG-1]

[pyroliz.livejournal.com]

"I'm Liz Sherman and I'm a senior," Liz said, "I'm taking this class because it looked interesting and it's always helpful to learn more about logic and critical thinking,"

Re: Introductions [LOG-1]

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"My name is Claire Bennet," she said, idly realizing she shared the same last name as the teacher. "I'm a junior and I signed up for this class because I want to learn to think more logically."

Re: Introductions [LOG-1]

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"My name is Triela. I am a junior. I suspect I am in this class because Hilshire thinks he's funny."

Actually, Hilshire didn't hav a sense of humor that he was aware of, so she knew she was probably in the class for some obscure reason that only made sense to him.

Re: Introductions [LOG-1]

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"My name is Aravis," she said, smiling briefly. While her title felt appropriate here, she was still firmly avoiding using it. She didn't feel like a noblewoman here, so why make anyone feel like they should address her as thus? "I am a senior this year, and I am taking this class mostly due to the 'critical thinking' portion. While my logic and reason are both often emotion-based, and I certainly do understand the need to keep myself in check," much though she loathed admitting as much, "critical thinking is something I always strive towards. I should like to learn to assess situations more carefully, so as to employ better strategies, socially."

Re: Introductions [LOG-1]

[eyebrowgoesup]

"I am Spock, and I am a sophomore. My people's culture and belief system is based on logic, and I am here to learn about human culture, therefore, it seemed reasonable for me to take a human course on logical thought," Spock explained.

He was vaguely hoping it would explain why humans could be so very illogical.

Discussion #1: Self-Deception [LOG-1]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

Have you ever discovered yourself clinging to a belief without any impartial evidence supporting it? Why was that belief important to you? Have you ever argued with a friend because he or she refused to see reality clearly, due to self-deception? Why do you think people have the ability to fool themselves on matters that should, abstractly, be more obvious?

(As above: feel free to respond to one another's answers, please. Healthy discussion is encouraged.)

Re: Discussion #1: Self-Deception [LOG-1]

[furnaceface]

//People fool themselves on matters that ought to be obvious because the lie is easier to accept,// Jonothon said, crossing his arms and shifting his weight uneasily. //Sometimes, the truth hurts too bloody much, feels too uncomfortable, and so long as yer can convince yerself that it isn't really the case, maybe it's just easier to breathe.//

Or not breathe. Exist. What-have-you.

Discussion #2: Self-fulfilling Prophecies [LOG-1]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

Have you ever caused something to happen because you believed (or feared) that it would? Is there a better way of dealing with unpleasant prophecies? Is this necessarily bad, in cases where the prophecy is positive? (I.e., someone is told that he will do particularly well at today's job interview, and so performs with great confidence and does, in fact, receive the job.) Why is fiction so fond of the accidental forms of this fallacy?

(Ping freely, my children!)

Re: Discussion #2: Self-fulfilling Prophecies [LOG-1]

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"If something affects you so strongly that your belief in it is grounded solidly, then whether or not you cause something to happen because of it wouldn't matter, would it? Before... before my curse was broken, I didn't deal with the prophecy that I must marry a blueblood who loved me. You see, I believed it with such conviction that it simply was a fact in my mind, unpleasant as it may be."

Speak to Miss Bennet [LOG-1]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

For she is here.

(No TA thread this week, as she has not, IC, chosen them yet, but will be doing so during class.)

Re: Speak to Miss Bennet [LOG-1]

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

As requested, Claire stuck around after class. "You wanted to see me?"

OOC [LOG-1]

[clevermsbennet.livejournal.com]

As stated above: this is a discussion class, so please, feel free to ping one another and discuss freely, in the Introduction and Discussion threads.

Miss Bennet asks that everyone be respectful of one another's beliefs and opinions, in this classroom, and that there be no carrying-on in the During the Lecture thread. Violation of either rule can and will lead to detention; more information here (http://clevermsbennet.livejournal.com/16248.html).

Questions, comments, and so on taste like pie and go here!