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Media Literacy

Critical Thinking Skills / Fallacies

Curriculum

5 Sections
28 Lessons
25 Minutes

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Introduction
1
- 1.1
  Introduction
Learning objectives
1
- 2.1
  Learning objectives
Fallacy literacy training
15
Critical thinking skills: The 5 techniques of sciences denial by John Cook
11
Resources
1
- 5.1
  Resources

Critical thinking skills: The 5 techniques of sciences denial by John Cook 9/10

Conspiracy theories

The conspiracy phenomenon is very complex, not only does it shy away from scientifically proven information but it connects events worldwide and connects them to a single explanation sometimes involving fallacious reasoning. It is part of the FLICC strategies of science denial from John Cook. Despite its complexity, some characteristics can be identified. These include:

Alleged ‘evidence’ that appears to support the conspiracy theory, but which is often based on connecting unrelated facts and has been repeatedly disproved by a large number of reliable sources.
Circular reasoning: nothing is accidental, both evidence against the conspiracy and lack of evidence are interpreted as evidence for its truth.
They divide society into camps: the good guys and the bad guys.^[1]
Conspiracy theories

^[1] Based on: https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/logicalfallacies/Conspiracy-Theory and

https://desfake.cat/ (Capsule 4)

https://x.com/_ClimateCraze/status/1637631843548667907

Conspiracy theories

https://x.com/search?q=conspiracy+global+warming&src=typed_query

Critical thinking skills: The 5 techniques of sciences denial by John Cook 8/10

Critical thinking skills: The 5 techniques of sciences denial by John Cook 10/10