Critical Thinking

The course explains the essence of critical thinking and teaches to apply it in everyday and professional life. The basics of classical logic will be explained and applied for rigorous argumentation concerning different topics and situations from everyday life.

NB! This course will take place in autumn semester 2025/2026 which starts on 1st of September and ends on 25th of January (you can find that information under Start date section). TalTech's timetables for Autumn semester 2025 will be published at the end of June via tunniplaan.taltech.ee. Switch the page to English and use "Search" and "Open detailed search" to find your course. NB! Some courses are taught by several lecturers during the same semester. Make sure that the course name and lecturer/teacher infromation of your course match with the information given in the Course Catalogue.

After completing this course, the student:

• explains the essence and usefulness of critical thinking;
• assesses arguments on the basis of deductive and inductive standard;
• applies the basic methods of logical thinking, i.e. induction, deduction and abduction;
• identifies single and multiple arguments and recognises typical fallacies;
• applies critical thinking for identifying fake news and conspiracy theories.

Final assessment can consist of one test/assignment or several smaller assignments completed during the whole course. After declaring a course the student can re-sit the exam/assessment once. Assessment can be graded or non-graded. For specific information about the assessment process please get in touch with the contact person of this course. For specific information about grade transfer please contact your home university

None.

• Moodle.
• Gary James Jason “The Critical Thinking Book”
• Jamie Carlin Watson, Robert Arp, Skyler King “Critical Thinking. An Introduction to Reasoning Well”

exercises