Chapter 2 Self-Assessment

. When we decide to accept a claim solely on the grounds that it advances or coincides with our interests, we are guilty of

. The __________ effect is the phenomenon in which a false claim is believed to be true simply because it is familiar.

. Classifying individuals into groups according to oversimplified or prejudiced attitudes or opinions is known as

. According to Lawrence Blum, inferiorization and antipathy are the two factors that define

. When we seek out and use only evidence that supports our existing beliefs, we are guilty of

. When we rely on evidence not because it's trustworthy but because it's memorable or striking, we fall prey to

. One implication of social relativism is that the beliefs of a society

. The __________ effect is the phenomenon of being ignorant of how ignorant we are.

. Reasoning for the purpose of supporting a predetermined conclusion rather than to uncover the truth is known as

. Subjective relativism implies that individual persons are

. According to critics of subjective relativism, if the claim "All truth is relative" is objectively true, then it is objectively false.

. According to the analysis of Lawrence Blum, racism is defined as the belief that races exist and are differentiated by significant moral, intellectual, or cultural characteristics.

. In its most general sense, evidence is something that guarantees the truth of a statement.

. From the perspective of critical thinking, there is nothing inherently wrong with accepting a claim that furthers your own interests.

. The only available remedy for our tendency to resist contrary evidence is to make a conscious effort to look for supporting evidence.

. Someone who believes that Honda Civics are unsafe cars after seeing one involved in a traffic accident, has fallen prey to the mere exposure effect.

. Emotions have no place in clear critical thinking.

. To help avoid motivated reasoning, we should be reasonably skeptical of all sources, especially of those that support our beliefs.

. According to the most plausible criterion for knowledge, claims must be beyond all possible doubt in order to count as knowledge.

. The popularity of a belief is always a good indicator of its truth.

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