Critical thinking may be the most important quality to possess when trying to integrate different disciplines. At times it may seem as though two different disciplines can only relate to each other in a multidisciplinary way (think fruit salad more than smoothie). But if you can truly think critically then eventually a reason and way to integrate will emerge. Sometimes you need to only examine a small aspect of a discipline and use that to tie in throughout all of another discipline. For this week look at your own minor and areas and how you may be able to integrate them and how critical thinking will be a valuable tool for you to use.
Here are all of your talking points for this week:
-How does your critical thinking relate to being interdisciplinary?
-Comment on how the Virtual Philosopher scored your response. From the comments you received about your responses, what insight have you gained about your own critical thinking and reasoning?
-How does the outline of your critical thinking disposition match with the application of it in doing the Virtual Philosopher?
@ Leo where can we find the Virtual Philosopher? I don't have a clue of what you are talking about :)
ReplyDeleteCritical thinking is key to being interdisciplinary. Interdisciplinarians have to approach issues and problems from more than one angle. Critical thinking is required to determine the meaning and/or significance of what is expressed, and to justify the conclusion and accept it as either true or false. Being an interdisciplinarian means one must look at an issue which using critical thinking to solve the issue by taking all areas of expertise into consideration.
ReplyDeleteAs for the virtual philosopher...I'm not sure what you are talking about either.
I also don’t know where I can find the virtual philosopher but as far as critical thinking I can say that IDS allows me to enjoy not only one point of view but several. It also lets me analyze them and chose which I may validate and adopt in my life and in my profession. My minor is communication science and disorders and I think that critical thinking gives me the possibility of pick and chose which ideas and theories I can adopt and therefore apply in my career as a speech therapist.
ReplyDeleteCritical thinking is a process by which we take information and we weigh it against other information to come up with an answer to a complex problem. In Interdisciplinary Studies we need to be able to analyze information from many sources and be able to skillfully combine it into one solution. I haven’t taken any classes towards my minor in Leadership studies, so I’m not real sure how exactly I will be able to fit the pieces of the puzzle together. In any profession leadership is key, so this minor should give me tools to use in integrating information with by behavioral science/public administration areas of study
ReplyDeleteCritical thinking relates to interdisciplinarity very strongly, because combining or integrating disciplines aids a person to become a better critical thinker. I have no idea how to go about answering the rest of the talking points!
ReplyDeleteHello everyone!
ReplyDeleteIt appears that you are unsure about the Virtual Philosopher assignment. Here are the steps and the link to access the Virtual Philosopher. Hope this helps!
1. Click the link below which will take you to an interactive exercise called Virtual Philosopher developed by Dr. Wade Maki from the Philosophy department at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Virtual Philosopher Link (must have updated FLASH to play correctly): http://web.uncg.edu/dcl/courses/vicecrime/vp/vp.html
2. Comment on your critical thinking reasoning that led to your decisions for all three scenarios: the friend's problem, the lifeboat problem, the liver problem.
3. Explain where your critical thinking gave way to your values, ethics, and beliefs. Comment on the differences you perceive between "ethical" and "critical" reasoning and what kinds of problems it caused in doing or reflecting on this exercise and even in your academic experiences.
4. Comment on how the Virtual Philosopher scored your response. From the comments you received about your responses, what insight have you gained about your own critical thinking and reasoning?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteCritical thinking relates to being interdisciplinary, because one must be able to think outside the box and have the capability to deal with difficult dilemnas in order to be a interdisciplinarian.
ReplyDeleteFor the first two sections on the Virtual Philosopher I scored consistently, where as on the Liver Transplant section I had an inconsistent score. I do not think this really measures my ethnical values and critical reasoning because I was limited in the answers that I could give.
In the Liver Transplant scenario, I believe a group of medical professions make the decision together, I do not believe it is a decision one person makes in a matter of a few minutes.
When I took the quiz I was consistent with 2 of the 3 results. The only one that was inconsistent was the liver transplant.
ReplyDelete1. “The friend’s problem” - I believe that telling the truth is always best. You can put the information to the other person without making them feel bad. I would want my friends to be completely honest with me.
2. “The Lifeboat” – I don’t think that just because a person is overweight is any reason to single them out. If a decision would be made it should be discussed.
3. “The liver problem” – this one was a little more difficult as it is hard to choose just one person, but when looking at each person, the sickest should be the one chosen.
I think my beliefs sometimes rule over my “critical” thinking. However, I can live with myself at the end of the day. The one area that was not constant was with the last issue. I believe that each person’s life is valuable, but when it comes to helping someone, I chose the 8yr old boy who was the sickest
Critical thinking can better help you integrate areas you were unable to previously.
ReplyDeleteThe Virtual Philosopher scored 2 out of 3 of my answers consistent. In "The Friend's problem" I mentioned how I believed that lying was sometimes understandable depending on the situation. I then said that the friend should tell the friend that he is odd. I was scored inconsistent for that and I disagree because I do not feel like lying in that situation was understandable. It was not that big of a deal and in the end could hurt the friendship due to not being trustworthy. In "The Lifeboat" I decided to eliminate the 400 lb man because there is no sense in 10 other people dying. I was looking at things from the greater good aspect. In "The liver problem" I decided to choose the life that was most valuable to save other lives. The AIDS researcher could save millions of people and her life is the most valuable to the world. The millionaire that would donate $100 million dollars would come in second place because that money could also save many lives. The 26 year old was responsible for 6 small children so she came after the millionaire. The very ill boy came last because although, unfortunate, he could not add to the greater good at the present time. And lastly, the alcoholic criminal because despite his position on the list does not seem to care about his own health. His criminal acts do not contribute to the great good either. The insight I gained was that I am interested in what would work out for the most amount of people.
My 3 disciplines of study integrate together quite well. I chose Cultural Anthropology as a minor. The culture I'm especially interested in is early Florida Native Americans, which led to an appreciation for the Everglades and the environment existing today in our state. Considering the destruction that has gone on with Lake Okeechobee and our unique River of Grass, my chemistry and engineering background frequently comes into play. However there has been an unexpected bonus having Anthropology as my minor; I never thought about the fact that large engineering firms doing business internationally have need of people who understand the cultures of the foreign countries they do business with. In addition, diversity has become a huge concern in large companies. I'm one of several employees who teach an annual class about ethics and diversity.
ReplyDelete1. Friend's problem-inconsistent. I agree that it is sometimes okay to tell a lie. However, if this is my friend I would probably tell the truth on this occasion. I just would not word it the way the VP did.
2. Lifeboat scenario-consistent. Killing innocent people is always wrong and the decision would not be mine to make. I would definitely be hoping for a miracle or a quick ending. Truthfully, not many of us know what we would do under such circumstances. I think you'd have to be there. If my children were in that lifeboat, I'd probably be the one who shoved the big guy in.
3. Liver transplant-consistent. Some lives are worth more than others. I think we need more details, and the physician would have them. I chose the 26 year old, not because she had 6 kids but because she is 26, has many years to live, wasn't so sick yet that she couldn't survive the surgery so her prognosis for living a long life is good. Bob may very likely continue to drink, the rich guy was last to make the list, the 60 year old doesn't have as many years to live as the 26 year old and the 8 year old child was so sick that he would very likely not survive the surgery. Once again this is purely subjective. You'd have to be there before making such a decision. If any one of those people on the list was your loved one, you'd want them to have that liver, especially if you were the parent of that child.
Insight- We can't always do what we'd like to do or what we think is 'most right'. We must all make compromises. I'd like to see Florida return to the far more pristine state it was before Disney World and the housing boom. However, my husband is a General Contractor. That's a contradiction. The best I can hope for is to help protect what we now have and perhaps contribute to sensible, environmentally sound development in the future.
-Deb Tanner
Hello everyone,
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to complete the Virtual Philosopher assignment and discuss your outcomes. I remember completing the VP myself.
In the friend situation, I, like all of you so far, chose to be honest with my friend and tell her she was odd. Like Deb said I would be more tactful in explaining her "oddness" to her.
In the Lifeboat situation I refused to push the 400 pound man out of the boat because I believe that all lives are worth saving. I agree with Robin that just because the man is overweight doesn't mean he should immediately be thrown out. The decision should be discussed by all memebers in the lifeboat.
The Liver transplant was by far the most difficult scenario for me. I utimately chose to save the young child who was the sickest, because he was the one in most desperate need of the transplant. Guy, although we chose different people, I appreciate your thought process and concern for the greater good.
All of these situations require critical thinking and the ability to play out the scenarios and consequences in our minds before a decision is actually made. We can usually easily discuss what we believe is right and what we value, however like Deb said "we can't always do what we'd like to do or what we think is most right". In the end, you have to make the decision you think is best and that you can live with.
Jennifer Hickel
The friend problem: I honestly wouldn’t say either answer. If my friend is weird, but I’m their friend, then I probably think they’re weird in a good way, so I probably wouldn’t view them as the typical “weird” definition. But I selected my answer in reference to what would make my friend feel better.
ReplyDeleteThe lifeboat: Truthfully, I don’t think my little body could manage to push a 400 pound man out of a boat, so on top of the fact that it would be murder, I chose not to.
The liver problem: Obviously this was the most complex situation. I chose to give the transplant to the sickest and youngest candidate. I did not choose the alcoholic because of his age and the fact that he may abuse his new liver. I did not choose the man with the donation because I saw it as a bribe. I did not choose the mom because she wasn’t the sickest, although I really wanted her to have it. I did not choose the AIDS researcher because other people can carry out her work.
I was consistent with all of my answers except the liver problem. I don’t think that the virtual philosopher can easily tell me that I am or am not consistent, since these are hypothetical situations. If I were thinking critically alone, I probably would have answered differently, but I put my emotions into it as well an my ethical thinking.
@Leah - I agree what you said on each issue. I was reading you post about the friend being wierd and it made me think - If they are wierd and my friend, most likely I am weird too :)
ReplyDeleteI think in any circumstance we always want to use critial thinking, but our values come into play too.
@Deb – I agree with you about the way they worded the issue with the friend. I would be honest, but probably would not put it like that. I also believe in a “real –life” setting in the case with the liver transplant, we would have more information that what was provided (at least I’d hope so). Some of that information may have even changed my mind.
ReplyDelete@Guy - Our comments about the friends situation are nearly identical. We differ on the other 2 and yet I see your point of view on both situations. If we were having a real-time discussion I might even be persuaded to agree with you completely. I can't imagine being capable of ending someone's life, but I can appreciate your considering the greater good.
ReplyDelete@Robin I don't know what UCF Leadership studies involves but common sense would indicate that it strengthens your skills to lead. Sounds like that will integrate with just about any degree. It is a skill that is badly needed in the workplace. I know my company encourages every employee to take at least one leadership class per year, varying in length from 8 to 24 hours. You realize how important that skill must be when a company that employees thousands is willing to pay for each of them to invest that kind of time in training. I have to believe your minor will serve you well.
ReplyDelete@Robin. It kind of seems to me that pure critical thinking isn't really whole unless you add in ethics and maybe even emotion. Sometimes I also let my beliefs overrule my critical thinking.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like every person had 2 consistent answers and 1 inconsistent.
ReplyDeleteInformation Critical thinking relates to being interdisciplinary because it includes a complex combination of skills. You get different ideas and information from your brain and compare them to each other to get your final answer. This is just like combining your areas/minor as an interdisciplinarian and integrating them into a future job.
ReplyDeleteWhen I went on Virtual Philosopher, my personal ethics and choices were consistent for the first two situations, but my third situation came out as inconsistent.
The friend problem: For this problem I chose that it is sometimes ok to lie to someone. It's not good to lie, but there are exceptions, when you don't want to hurt others.
The Lifeboat problem: I said that I would not push the 400 pound man off of the boat. Everyone's life has equal value and I couldn't just push him because he weighed more than everyone. Plus, that would be considered murder.
The liver problem: I chose to give the transplant to the youngest child who was the sickest. I was told that he only had a week left to live if he didnt get the transplant, so the other people had more hope than him. The person I would've chose to save next would've been the mother because she had six kids to take care of and they need their mother when they're growing up. I think the alcoholic was the least deserving of the transplant because he could continue drinking and ruin his new liver if he were to get it.
Insight I have gained about my critical thinking is that my beliefs sometimes outweigh my critical thinking. Sometimes we do what we think is best rather than what is right. If I wasn't limited to the choices I was given on virtual philosopher, then some of my answers would have been a little different.
Jennifer, I agree with you when it came to the liver problem. I would've picked to save the young child first because he had the least amount of time left to live.
ReplyDeleteRobin, two out of three of my answers were consistent and I also wouldn't push the 400 pound man off of the boat. Just because he is overweight doesn't mean that he is any less deserving of being on that boat than anyone else.
-Josh Ember
@ Robin,
ReplyDeleteI think that we are all "weird" in one way or another. I know I definitely have my quirks. However, I prefer to think of myself as "eccentric"! LOL :)
I was really surprise with this assignment it made me think about what I think my beliefs are and how I would truly react.
ReplyDeleteI scored 2 out of 3. I was consistent in the two first scenarios.
Situation 1: A friend’s dilemma. (consistent)
I don’t have a problem telling my friends they are weird for all I know some people may find me weird as well. I would like the people I call my friends to be honest and tell me things how they truly are. That tells me that regardless of my “weirdness” they are willing to continue being my friends and I sincerely value that. I also think that it is in the hardest time when you know your true friends, they will tell you the things you don’t want to hear and the things that might hurt at the time but they are also there to help you get trough those tough times.
Situation 2: Lifeboat scenario. (consistent)
This made me think of titanic (lol) I was picturing Leonardo Dicaprio and Kate Winslet at the end of the movie. But then I thought about this situation and I wouldn’t want to be kicked out of the boat due to my physical appearance unfortunately that is the case in our society in many situations, we make decisions based on the outside and not what truly matter which is each individual life.
Situation 3: Liver transplant (inconsistent)
I knew what the right answer was, I knew I should of pick the first come first serve rule but I’m a little bias on this one since I’m the proud mother of a 3 month old, and I would hate to see for someone like the drunk, homeless man who has spend his life damaging the one organ he now need to get a liver instead of a deserving child. A little kid that has no fault for his condition.
Critical thinking is essential in live but we will always be bias based on our own life experience and therefore will never be entirely neutral and or apathetic to other people situations.
Critical thinking is very much related to being interdisciplinary. It is vital to correlate each of the disciplines together using critical thinking to help solve problems and analyze effectively.
ReplyDeleteSituation 1:consistent
Lying consistently and about serious situations is something to worry about but white lies and some others can be explained for the "greater good"
Situation 2:consistent
Murder is wrong no matter the situation
Situation 3:inconsistent
I was inconsistent with the third situation even though I don't think the question was as accurate as the others or accurately portrayed the question because there really wasn't anyone "worth" saving
@Leah
ReplyDeleteI agree with the fact that it would probably be a group effort to push a 400 pound guy haha, but murder is wrong regardless.
@Deb
ReplyDeleteI would most likely tell a close friend the truth as well, but it felt like the wound was still fresh and they needed a pick-me-up at the moment
I would say critical thinking is important. You need to be able to think like this in order to better combine your majors, as well as minor. I have already been in the works of thinking how I can can combine and use my minor towards my major. I would like to think of critical thinking as the median between the areas of focus.
ReplyDeleteFor my scores, I got 1 out of 3.
Situation 1: A Friend's Dilemna - Inconsistent
Basically it's telling me I'm a hypocrite to saythat telling white lies is okay, but when it comes to comfort my friend, being honest and trying to boost their self-esteem it's wrong to do so.
Situation 2: The Lifeboat Problem - Inconsistent
I do think that murder is wrong, but it's telling me I'm also a hypocrite for saying that pushing a 400 lb person off a liferaft to save everyone else is justifiable.
Situation 3: Liver Problem - Consistent
Apparently my personal choice of ethics (saving the 8 year old boy) in this were consistent.
@luisamejia00 & Steven,
ReplyDeleteI remember having the exact same answers when I did that last year. I was consistent in my first two answers and even though I knew what that answer to the last one "should be" I chose with what I felt I would do put in that situation.
So I totally agree with both of you. It's hard to have an set in stone opinion without being faced with the issue.