Architecture and Critical Thinking

The Critical Thinking course aims to practice the discussion of architectural theses and ideas, and to develop the skill of critical thinking about them as a fundamental knowledge and skill.

The first three sessions will focus on explaining and practicing concepts related to reasoning. We will break down the components of an argument through interactive classroom discussions on simple topics. How can one provide reasoning for a claim, and how can this reasoning be critiqued? What is meant by the sufficiency and relevance of reasons in an argument? What are the explicit and implicit assumptions in these arguments? Where should one avoid reasoning and rely on empirical facts instead? What is sophistry, and where does it lie in wait for us?

The fourth and fifth sessions will involve reading and analyzing parts of two major architectural debates: first, the debate between Christopher Alexander and Peter Eisenman, and then the debate between Rem Koolhaas and Peter Eisenman, published in the book “Supercritical.” During these discussions, attention will be given not only to the content presented but also to the methodology and structure of each side’s argument. In the final session, we will practice critical reading by examining a text and continuously questioning it. What idea does the author propose between the lines? What claim does the author attempt to persuade us of? What is the reasoning behind it? Are the evidence and arguments sufficient to persuade us, or should we extend the examination of the idea beyond the present text?