Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - PHIL 105 D100

Critical Thinking (3)

Class Number: 6918

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Tue, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 10, 2025
    Wed, 7:00–10:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Dec 10, 2025
    Wed, 7:00–10:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An introduction to the tools of reasoning used in everyday life and in science. The overall aim of the course is to understand what makes good reasoning good, what makes bad reasoning bad, and how to do more of the former and less of the latter. Topics include: construction, analysis, and evaluation of arguments; logic and probability; updating beliefs and making decisions; designing experiments; interpreting statistics; identifying fallacies and biases. Open to all students. Students with credit for PHIL XX1 may not take this course for further credit. Q/Breadth-Social Sci/Sciences.

COURSE DETAILS:

What should you believe? What should you do? In this course, you will learn how to reason better—that is, how to make more thoughtful, informed, and fair-minded judgments about the world and your place in it. We will explore how to identify good and bad reasoning, avoid common biases and selection effects, and draw appropriate conclusions from limited information. Topics include argument structure, cognitive bias, probabilistic reasoning, generalization, causal inference, theory evaluation, and decision-making under uncertainty.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Analyze and evaluate arguments for clarity, structure, and strength
  • Detect reasoning errors, including fallacies and cognitive biases
  • Understand and apply basic concepts of probability and expected value
  • Avoid selection effects and assess the quality of evidence
  • Reason responsibly about generalizations from observed cases
  • Distinguish correlation from causation and evaluate causal claims
  • Assess theories for explanatory power, simplicity, and plausibility
  • Make better decisions by weighing risks, values, and uncertainty
  • Reflect on their own thinking habits and cultivate intellectual humility

PHIL 105 may be applied towards the Quantitative Requirement, and the Breadth-Social Sciences Requirement OR the Breadth-Science Requirement (but not both; student can choose which Breadth requirement to satisfy and plan enrollment in other courses accordingly).

Note: PHIL 105 has replaced PHIL XX1. If you have taken PHIL XX1 in the past and you enroll in PHIL 105, it will be considered a repeat.

Videos: Why Study Philosophy? and Meet our professors!

Grading

  • Three problem sets 20%
  • In-class midterm exam 30%
  • Final exam 35%
  • Attendance (lecture and tutorial) 10%
  • Participation (reading and tutorial) 5%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Title: Reason Better: An Interdisciplinary Guide to Critical Thinking
Author: David Manley
ISBN: 9781774946152

This is an online teaching resource available on Top Hat.


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

Thinking of a Philosophy Major or Minor? The Concentration in Law and Philosophy? The Certificate in Ethics? The Philosophy and Methodology of Science Certificate?
Contact the PHIL Advisor at philcomm@sfu.ca   More details on our website: SFU Philosophy

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.