Question

"There is no life outside this solar system, and nothing you can say will change that fact!" Which criterion of critical thinking does this person lack?

a. "Evidence is only necessary if it can be tested."
b. "All evidence is not equal in quality."
c. "Authority or expertise does not make the claims of the authority or expert true."
d. "Critical thinking requires an open mind."

Answer 1

The correct answer is: d. Critical thinking requires an open mind.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to researcher Christopher Dwyer, Critical thinking involves multiple dispositions. One of the dispositions or criteria needed for the correct engagement in critical thinking is being open-minded.

Being open-minded means being flexible at a cognitive level.

It means discarding radicality when approaching ambiguous topics.

It means being skeptical about one's preconceived notions about things. It means being open to change and to question oneself about the things that we believe in.

In this particular case, the person saying that "there is no life outside this solar system, and nothing you can say will change that fact" is clearly lacking an open mind, because no matter what evidence is shown to that person, nothing is going to change her position.

In conclusion, the correct answer is D. "Critical thinking requires an open mind."