Critical Thinking: Identifying the Issue 1 An issue is any matter of controversy or uncertainty; an issue is a point in dispute, in doubt, in question, or simply up for discussion or consideration. Issues are raised when claims are in question. Many issues can be posed beginning with the word “whether.” Issues in critical thinking should not be confused with or identified with topics of conversation or with psychological problems or hang-ups. Conclusions = Issues. Issues can be identified with the conclusions of arguments. Since every argument addresses an issue, one way to pin down at least some of the issues in a conversation or passage is to look for the conclusions of any arguments that have been given. Why is it difficult to identify the proper issue? {Keep these points in mind when critically evaluating your own writing.} • Our writing is often haphazard, unorganized, unfocused. • We often take on several issues simultaneously. • We can ourselves be confused about what issue we are discussing. • We often are sidetracked by tangents, asides, and irrelevancies. • We sometimes purposely try to draw attention away from the main issue {a fallacy known as red herring}. • We may need to distinguish between main and subsidiary issues {often parallel to the distinction between main and sub- arguments}. What are the dangers of incorrectly identifying the issue? We might be accused of committing the straw man fallacy, or of being sidetracked, or not evaluating the correct topic or argument. For a full account of the straw man fallacy, CLICK HERE. Let’s consider the following example: “In Defense of Viciousness and Violence” It is easy to criticize "splatter flicks," the bloody and vicious horror movies so popular among teenagers. After all, they portray our worst nightmares in living color and focus attention on vicious, twisted criminals and psychopaths. All the same, I think it is important to pay attention to the good effects of slasher flicks. Our society is a scary place. There is terrible violence in public schools, vicious drug-related crime, adult abuse of children, random death on city streets. So, teenagers have to deal with real fears. It helps to watch real fears acted out in the safety of a movie theater, where the audience canif they choosesimply walk away. Because splatter flicks scare us in a setting where we have ultimate control, they help us learn to cope with our deepest fears, dreads, and anxieties. Violent behaviors are not popular because of violent movies; violent movies are popular because they reflect the violence that already exists. No one claims that people are loving because they watch Bambi. So why do critics claim that people turn into murderers because they watch Scream or I Know What You Did Last Summer? How would you characterize the main issue raised by this article?Critical Thinking: Identifying the Issue 2 (a) Whether our society is a scary place. (b) Whether “splatter flicks” portray our worst nightmares. (c) Whether we should pay attention to the good effects of slasher flicks. (d) Whether violent movies are popular because they reflect the violence that already exists in society. Note that each of these claims, while saying roughly related things, is making a distinct point. Which issue we attribute to this passage will make a big difference in terms of what we think is the overall point of the passage. To help identify the appropriate issue, you might focus on identifying the core argument of the passage. What do you think is the main conclusion of this passage? What premises (or evidence) does the author cite in support of that conclusion? The main conclusion of the passage is your issue. Identifying the Issue For each passage, identify the primary issue discussed in the passage. 1. The Republicans’ proposal to cut taxes on capital gains (profits from selling real estate, stocks, and bonds) is not a sop for the wealthy. It is a way to stimulate investment and ultimately to create jobs. That’s why it is in everyone’s interest to support the proposal. 2. With genetically different animals, there’s always the possibility that the results of experiments are due to variations among animals rather than to whatever is being tested. Genetically identical research animals would be a boon to research because scientists could be more confident of their research results. 3. It’s wise to let states deny AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) benefits to unmarried kids under eighteen who live away from their parents. This would discourage thousands of these kids from having children of their own in order to get state-subsidized apartments. 4. That American schools have finally been integrated is a myth. The vast majority of African American students attend schools whose student bodies are almost entirely African American. And most whites attend schools where only a tiny minority are African American, Latino, or Asian. 5. The Justice Department recently reported that the Immigration and Naturalization Service allowed more than 180,000 immigrants to become American citizens just before the last presidential election without completing background checks. The INS did this in hopes that most of the new immigrants would vote for Democrats. This political chicanery is an outrage, and Congress should demand accountability from the responsible