Critical Thinking Part 6: A Precautionary Tale

Part 6 of the TechNyou critical thinking resource.

Transcript can be found here:

Starts in Part 1: A valuable argument

The resource covers basic logic and faulty arguments, developing student's critical thinking skills.

Suitable for year 8-10, focused on science issues, the module can be adapted to suit classroom plans.

The resource is found here:

There are also two new downloadable Critical Thinking guides:
and

Animated and directed by James Hutson, Bridge8.
Written by Mike Mcrae and James Hutson

[burpwind]

Love to see the full list of logical fallacies done in the same amazing style.

[SaeedNeamati]

Explaning repeatable observations, and enabling accurate predictions. That's a golden sentence.

[TravelingHacker-um]

Your channel is a hidden gem. You need more subscribers!

[techNyouvids]

@burpwind - Yeah we started with a real long list and had to whittle it down, the main problem was it was way to long to work with the education module and it needed to have an arc that people could understand - from what logic is, to arguments to the scientific process and it's limitations (you can't get 100%).

[rogermwilcox]

I must protest! The Saturn V launch rocket shown at the end was going STRAIGHT UP through all 3 stages. What sane launch profile wouldn't have the rocket pitch over as it climbed until it was pointed sideways? Even in the Apollo program, we first had to put the payload into Low Earth Orbit before we initiated the Translunar Injection burn.

[jackjohnbob]

just wanted to thank you for:
a) the awesome series
and
b) cutting out the sound when the rocket went into space :P

[pureheavenlyevil]

@UnstoppableDrew "I reckon" is what they said. Translates to, "In science, theory doesn't mean I think/suppose"

[CptOlimar]

I like information.
These videos are informational.
Therefore, I like these videos.

Keep up the good work!

[BelgianBicyclist]

I'd like to thank the fine people of Australia for this informative series.

[bimmjim]

The precautionary principle is used throughout all forms of engineering; it's just not called "the precautionary principle." In aeronautical engineering they use triple redundancy in critical systems. This idea was applied to the braking systems in cars. To design a bridge beam, engineers calculate the strength required to withstand the absolute worst case and then add 40% more strength. This is called "the engineering factor. The PP is SOP in engineering because it works best.

[mrk]

I would love to hear all of the accurate predictions made because of evolution. Evolution is a broad elastic theory amendable to adjustment so if the end result doesn't match the result the theory is manipulated. Pure science!

[techNyouvids]

@burpwind @xexonster @yuan303 @Omniwoof @marxvlog Thanks - we're hoping to do more on the scientific process and explain some of its limitations, touching on Popper and Kuhn, but that's a lot of complex issues to compress into this format and there's time and budget to consider too. We may also add some more fallacies and examine them in the series. To early to tell. :)

[DHTHORNE]

@MrNoosphere While you have a valid point I disagree, because the message is easily muddled because the issues being used as examples are controversial and the viewer may already have an alternate POV that is technically valid as far as Critical Thinking is concerned, and instead of really thinking about logic will get annoyed or even insulted by the tone taken in the video. On the bright side, our dialogue(?) has been far more enjoyable to me anyway.

[DHTHORNE]

@MrNoosphere Sorry, Not sure I consider it yelling. I wanted to make sure that point was illustrated, but it's often impossible to illustrate one properly in youtube comments, so be charitable and understand that some of the things I said might not have been stated as clearly as intended. I could be more succinct in some cases I'm sure, but sometimes too many statements need the support of other statements and have to be stated together. At least that's how I felt at the time.

[wayofki]

This last video is quite interesting, because according to its own logic, all theories ARE in fact "just" theories, since nothing can really be known with 100% certainty. Some (like the examples of evolution and climate change) just have a higher probability of being "certain". Therefore there is actually no such thing as a "fact" at all, and never will be, since knowledge by its own nature is limited. 

Having said that, its a great little series (if a little over-simplified). 

[BinkieMcFartnuggets]

Well I'm never looking at chicken nuggets shaped like dinosaurs the same way again.

[yuan]

I want more! I cant believe im learning something from youtube

[MrNoosphere]

@D3mang3l Yeah, I removed that post precisely for that reason and decided to put some counter-claims up instead. OMG - 8 posts in response? That's the equivalent of yelling, yelling, yelling. I have more to say than this comment box allows, but I keep it succinct so others may reply to the points I raise, one at a time.

[GoldenBloodyBeared]

thank you so much! this is what internet should be about

[rg]

0:18 "Products are tested"

Yeah, I worked in that field. I wouldn't put too much faith in it, if I were you.