Asking the Right Questions, A Guide to Critical Thinking, 8th Ed

What Are the Value Conflicts and Assumptions? 67
use of the above reasoning? Try to explain how a preference for freedom of
speech over order might affect your reaction to this controversy.
^HHH^M^^^MHI^M^^H o*o«o»o*o*o #
I When libraries ban I ; Freedom of o
I books they deny I ^ L • speech is 0
I readers import I ^ T • preferred over •
I voices. I ° order. •
*
Libraries
should not
ban books.
USING THIS CRITICAL QUESTION
Once you have found a value assumption, what do you do with it? First, recall the
purpose of every critical question—to move you toward the evaluation of reasoning!
Because you know that thoughtful people have different value
assumptions, you have the right to wonder why any single value assumption is
being made. Thus, as a critical thinker, you would want to point out the need for
anyone who is making an argument to offer some explanation for why you
should accept the particular value assumption that is implicit in that argument.
Values and Relativism
We do not want to give the impression in this chapter that value preferences
are like ice cream, such that when I choose blueberry cheesecake as my flavor,
you have no basis for trying to persuade me that the lemon chiffon is a better
choice. Ice cream is just a matter of personal preference—end of story!
However, the choice of value preferences requires reasoning. That reasoning,
like any other, can be informed, thoughtful, and caring. But it can also
be sloppy and self-absorbed. Hence, value preferences require some justification
that critical thinkers can consider. A value preference requires supporting
reasons just as does any other conclusion. Then each of us can study the
reasoning to form our own reaction.