How We Think by John Dewey

1. In 'How We Think', John Dewey articulates a comprehensive framework for understanding the thinking process, emphasizing the importance of reflective thought in education and life. Dewey presents thinking as an active, dynamic process rather than a passive reception of information, encouraging individuals to engage critically with their experiences and to analyze their thought patterns. He delineates between 'inference' and 'deduction', arguing that true thinking arises when individuals encounter problems that require exploration and reasoning, leading to informed conclusions. Moreover, Dewey stresses that effective thinking is inherently social and contextual, shaped by interactions with others and the environment. He advocates for educational practices that nurture critical thinking habits, fostering a generation capable of independent thought and innovation. This work has lasting implications for pedagogy and the understanding of cognitive processes, underscoring the necessity of an experiential learning approach that values inquiry and practical engagement over rote memorization.

Dewey argues that the ultimate goal of education should be to teach what?

A) Technical vocational skills
B) Memorization of facts
C) What to think
D) How to think

2. What does Dewey identify as the origin of thought?

A) Divine inspiration
B) Rote memorization
C) A problematic situation
D) Genetic predisposition

3. What does Dewey contrast with reflective thought?

A) Mathematical calculation
B) Emotional response
C) Physical exercise
D) Routine action

4. According to Dewey, what is a 'warranted assertion'?

A) A guess made with confidence
B) An opinion stated loudly
C) A legally binding statement
D) A belief justified by inquiry

5. What role does 'data' play in Dewey's reflective thinking?

A) It is only used in science
B) It is the final conclusion
C) It is an unnecessary distraction
D) It provides the facts for the problem

6. Dewey believed that ideas should be considered as what?

A) Abstract truths
B) Plans of action
C) Fixed entities
D) Poetic expressions

7. What is the final step in Dewey's pattern of reflective thought?

A) Testing the hypothesis by action
B) Celebrating the conclusion
C) Publishing the results
D) Forgetting the initial problem

8. For Dewey, what is the relationship between thinking and experience?

A) Thinking arises from experience
B) Experience corrupts thinking
C) Thinking creates experience
D) They are completely separate

9. What does Dewey mean by 'the inductive movement'?

A) The movement of tectonic plates
B) A physical exercise routine
C) Reasoning from specific facts to a general idea
D) A political ideology

10. According to Dewey, what is a key characteristic of a good thinker?

A) Stubbornness
B) A large vocabulary
C) Open-mindedness
D) Speed of thought

11. What is the 'double movement of reflection'?

A) Reading and then writing
B) Thinking and then sleeping
C) Asking and then answering
D) Inductive and deductive reasoning

12. Dewey argues that the scientific method is what?

A) An outdated mode of inquiry
B) The perfected form of thinking
C) Only for use in laboratories
D) Too complex for everyday use

13. What is a 'prejudice' in Dewey's analysis?

A) A synonym for preference
B) A legal term for bias in court
C) A type of scientific instrument
D) A judgment formed before evidence is examined

14. For Dewey, what is the value of a hypothesis?

A) It directs observation and experimentation
B) It is the final answer to a problem
C) It is only useful in fiction
D) It is a wild guess with little value

15. What does Dewey identify as a major obstacle to good thinking?

A) Too much free time
B) Over-reliance on technology
C) Acceptance of authority without question
D) Lack of access to libraries

16. What is the role of 'meaning' in Dewey's theory?

A) It is irrelevant to thinking
B) It is a purely linguistic concept
C) It is a dictionary definition
D) It connects a present idea to a future consequence

17. According to Dewey, what is the first step in the reflective thought process?

A) Accepting a conclusion
B) Testing a solution
C) A felt difficulty
D) Formulating a hypothesis

18. Dewey was a leading proponent of which school of thought?

A) Stoicism
B) Pragmatism
C) Existentialism
D) Idealism

19. What educational approach is most closely associated with Dewey's ideas?

A) Vocational Training
B) Progressive Education
C) Montessori Education
D) Classical Education

20. Dewey's reflective thinking is often summarized as the 'scientific method' applied to what?

A) Everyday problems
B) Mathematical proofs
C) Laboratory experiments only
D) Theological inquiry

21. Dewey's model of reflective thinking consists of how many distinct phases?

A) Ten
B) Seven
C) Five
D) Three

22. Dewey criticizes teaching methods that rely too heavily on...

A) Scientific experimentation
B) Rote memorization
C) Artistic expression
D) Group discussion

23. For Dewey, the ultimate test of a thought or idea is its...

A) Practical consequences
B) Complexity and elegance
C) Popularity among experts
D) Age and tradition

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