Associate Level Material
Assumptions and Fallacies
Write a 150- to 200-word response to each of the following sets of questions:
What are assumptions? How do you think assumptions might interfere with critical thinking? What might you do to avoid making assumptions in your thinking?
In hindsight, we wouldn’t at first see assumptions as being a part of any critical thinking
process. Nevertheless when we assume, this is a chief element since assumptions presents some
perspective toward formulation your opinion. When we think critically, we need some form or
assuming to decipher and compare against probable facts in thinking critically to reach solid and
valid claims. Many assumptions are needed to be emulated and questioned for them to be
substantiated for credibility or lack thereof. Pairing critical thinking and assumptions is also significant in comprehending and an implication and the way it narrates into the process in totality. Inference is seen as a conclusion we arrive at in our minds grounded on some added truth or believed to being true. While assumption is an element of our belief system in which we don’t at first question. In our awareness, our mind initially believes that our assumptions are at least partially factual (taken for granted) and results in our conclusions (inferences). It is our inferences that enable us to act or respond accordingly; an example of such is an individual approaching another person with his or her arms extended in a “hugging” fashion, the person would commonly infer that the person coming towards them with arms extended wants to hug them. The persons assumption of the other person intent is grounded from their past experiences of receiving or expecting a hug. It is these previous encounters that permits us to assume and create our belief regarding such circumstances. So as to help averting to create assumptions in our thinking, we need to generate a mental habit to continuously question the things...