Open AccessThe Limits of Critical Thinking
Author(s) -
Don S. Levi
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
informal logic
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.368
H-Index - 15
eISSN - 2293-734X
pISSN - 0824-2577
DOI - 10.22329/il.v14i2.2536
Subject(s) - argument (complex analysis) , epistemology , critical thinking , key (lock) , position (finance) , sociology , philosophy , computer science , economics , biochemistry , chemistry , computer security , finance
This paper examines Robert Fogelin's suggestion that there may be deep disagreements, where no argument can address what is at issue. A number of possible bases for Fogelin's position are considered and rejected: people sometimes do not have enough in common for reasons to count as reasons; doubt is possible only against the background of framework propositions; key premises may be inarguable; argument must occur within a conceptual framework. The paper concludes by reflecting on why it is important to have a point of view when thinking critically about an argument and whether that fact constitutes a limitation as to what can be achieved by critical thinking.