ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on developing awareness of counter-argument identification and, in connection to this, the importance of considering others’ perspectives. A closely related skill to evaluation is the ability to identify counter arguments. This skill is necessary to validate information even more critically. In identifying the counter argument we are taking a broader view by considering the merits and limitations of a range of possible alternative perspectives. Thinking critically about counter arguments and differing perspectives helps people to consider viable alternatives, as they are pushed to think past the first piece of information that comes to mind. Beliefs develop over time and sometimes become deep rooted despite a lack of evidence to support them. Work conducted by Lobato et al. focused on epistemically unwarranted beliefs. Counter-argument identification and perspective-taking can be adversely impacted by our biases and our beliefs.
