← Thinking in the Age of AI

⏱ About 15 min✦ 15 XP

Module Check: Reasoning and Argument

You have covered a lot of ground in this module. You learned what reasoning is and how it differs from mere memory or opinion. You dissected arguments into claims, reasons, and evidence. You studied deductive and inductive reasoning, catalogued logical fallacies, practiced spotting weak arguments, explored the psychology of belief change, and applied critical thinking to AI systems. This final lesson pulls everything together — first with a vocabulary review, then a cross-module quiz, and finally a synthesis activity where you put the whole picture in your own words.

Flashcards — click each card to reveal the answer

Module Quiz

Which of the following best describes the difference between a reason and evidence in an argument?

A scientist observes 500 patients and finds that those who sleep more than seven hours consistently recover faster from illness. She concludes that adequate sleep promotes faster recovery. What type of reasoning is this?

'If you let students use calculators, soon they will want AI to write all their essays, and eventually nobody will learn anything at all.' Which fallacy is this?

You encounter a well-structured AI response with confident language and clear paragraphs. The response cites three academic papers. What should you do before using this information?

A student is told that a study contradicts a position she has held for two years. She finds herself dismissing the study without reading it. Which cognitive bias is most likely at work?

What makes a deductive argument sound, as opposed to merely valid?

Synthesis: Your Reasoning Manifesto

  1. A manifesto is a public declaration of your values and commitments. Your task is to write a short Reasoning Manifesto — a personal statement of how you commit to thinking and arguing from this point forward.
  2. Your manifesto should be four to six paragraphs long and must address each of the following:
  3. Paragraph 1 — What reasoning means to you: In your own words, describe what it means to reason well. What distinguishes good reasoning from just having opinions?
  4. Paragraph 2 — Your personal weak spots: Based on what you learned in this module, identify one or two cognitive biases or fallacies you know you are susceptible to. Be honest. How will you guard against them?
  5. Paragraph 3 — Your standard for evidence: What will you require before you accept a claim as probably true? How will you evaluate sources — including AI sources?
  6. Paragraph 4 — Your commitment to belief revision: Describe what kind of evidence would genuinely change your mind on a topic you currently feel strongly about. What does it feel like to update a belief, and why is it worth the discomfort?
  7. Paragraph 5 — Reasoning in the age of AI: How will you approach AI-generated arguments going forward? What habits will you build to make sure you are using AI as a tool rather than accepting its output uncritically?
  8. Share your manifesto with a partner, a family member, or your class. Ask one person who reads it: what is the strongest commitment in it, and where do they think you will find it hardest to follow through?
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