Philosophy Nr 347/ critical reasoning , thinking

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

• Textbook: Chapter 6, 7


• Lesson


• Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook)

Introduction

"Everyone is entitled to their own  opinions – but not their own facts." (Daniel Patrick Moynihan, cited in  Vanity Fair, 2010, para. 2)

We form opinions – and make our judgments – based on facts we observe  and values we hold. Our judgments are also influenced by the opinions  of others. In the section "An Expert on Hate in America" in Chapter 6,  one of the authors, Dr. Peter Facione, renders an opinion on a  non-profit civil rights organization: Southern Poverty Law Center  (SPLC). Dr. Facione is a leading advocate and one of the most  influential voices in the field of critical thinking.

His endorsement of the civil rights organization is unqualified. It  is also transparent: Dr. Facione reveals that he is a financial  supporter of the organization and has arranged speaking engagements for  its founder. This is Dr. Facione's invitation to you, the reader:

Knowing where you can learn more about the SPLC for yourself, and  knowing about Dr. Facione's endorsement and support of the Center's  work, evaluate this claim made by Dr. Facione: "The SPLC is an expert on  hate in America" (p. 124).

The endorsement of the SPLC is contained in the most current edition  of the text, whose copyright date is 2016. Since that time Morris Dees,  co-founder and former chief trial counsel, has been fired (Hassan,  Zraick & Blinder, 2019). Previously, there has been controversy  about groups and individuals that are listed by the SPLC as "hate  groups" (Graham, 2016; Price, 2018). The organization, which has nearly a  half-billion dollars in assets, has also been criticized for how it  spends these funds (Robinson, 2019).

Self-Assessment Question

Before you submit your  initial post, make sure to read the assigned chapter. Then, ask yourself  the following: Did the article in Chapter 6 of the text seem credible  and reliable? Why? Be very specific:

• Was it because it is in a textbook?


• Because it was written by a learned and respected person?


• Because of content in the article?


• Because of your previous knowledge of the SPLC?

Initial Post Instructions

For the initial post, address the following:

• Conduct additional research on the SPLC. Did your opinion alter in any way? Why?

Only after you have done some responsible research should you begin  to respond to the discussion prompt. The discussion is not about the  SPLC; it is not about Dr. Facione. It is about what you have learned  about forming opinions.

Your post must answer this question:

• How do you define the term "expert"?

Your post must also discuss at least two (2) of the following questions:

• How important are facts in the process of forming an opinion?  Explain what you believe to be the purpose or function of facts in  making a judgment.


• How did you respond to the self-assessment question? Since doing  further research, have you re-thought the way in which you assess  credibility and reliability? What is the importance of factoring the  recency of a reference or opinion (i.e., how old is it?) into an  assessment of credibility and reliability?


• How would you evaluate Dr. Facione's claim "The SPLC is an expert on  hate in America" (p. 124). Does the SPLC fit your definition of  "expert"? Be specific in your answer.