 Welcome to Critical Thinking – Questioning Assumptions Not all assumptions are based on fact or reality. Without awareness, we often make decisions based on erroneous assumptions. Critical thinking is a process that helps us to challenge assumptions. Watch this commercial for a fictitious energy-enhancing product. Are you sick and tired of feeling sick and tired? Are you feeling run-down? Biggie! A scientific breakthrough brings Biggie to you today. The special ingredient in Biggie is much like a natural hormone made by the body. Biggie LLC has been able to create this chemical in a more pure, concentrated form. Biggie has increased stamina, the ability to concentrate, and provided a sense of well-being for thousands of satisfied customers. Since the original hormone made by the body is safe and has no side effects, this chemical is also safe. Buy Biggie today and experience the difference. What are four claims made in the commercial? Pause the video to write down your answers. If you need to, rewind to watch the video again. Are the claims facts or assumptions? What questions would you ask the manufacturer to determine if the assumptions are based on facts? As you evaluate the claims in the commercial, compare these questions with the questions you wrote on the previous page. Now consider the following statements. For each statement, write two questions that would help you decide if the assumptions are valid. A store does not have enough employees at its service desk. It takes forever to get waited on. If you don't have money to buy something, just get a payday loan at the place down the street. You don't have to pay it back right away and your first loan is free. Everybody is doing it. You should buy a house. Renting doesn't make sense because you can buy a house with 0% down and low interest rates. The monthly payment is about what you're paying now for rent. Now, compare the questions you wrote at the beginning of this activity with the questions you wrote for the last few statements. Do you see any changes in your critical thinking? Are you equally satisfied with the different sets of questions? We are bombarded by assumptions in commercials and other situations. Evaluating statements takes discipline, but it will become an integrated skill to help us make rational decisions in everyday applications. At a minimum, it can save us money spent on useless or harmful products. Congratulations! You've completed questioning assumptions.