Critical Thinking is officially a Competency Progression in the new curriculum for Alberta’s K-12 schools. This means that teaching critical thinking is a cornerstone in our children’s education. But what should children learn when it comes to critical thinking? Research in argumentation theory suggests that critical thinking should also include competency in the ethics of exchanging reasons: We argue with others, and we should do so respectfully and inclusively. After all, we can hardly make good decisions about what to believe and do if we do not take everyone’s reasons into account equally!

In this talk, the speakers will make a case for teaching the ethics of argumentation as a part of K-12 critical thinking instruction. To illustrate their claims, they introduce ideas for three K-6 lesson plans meant to implement these ideas in a curriculum-friendly way.

Speakers: Dr. Katharina Stevens and Dr. Luis Andrade

Luis Andrade (1986) is a professor of Logic and Ethics at the National Preparatory School of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). He holds a master’s degree in Philosophy and a Ph.D. in Education. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Science at UNAM, where his research focuses on argumentative injustice. His interests include the ethics of argumentation and helping young people learn to address disagreements through ethical argumentation.

Katharina Stevens is an associate professor in the department of philosophy at the University of Lethbridge. She works on argumentation theory, and has written on reasoning by precedent, adversariality and, most importantly, the ethics of argumentation. She is the editor-in-chief of the journal Informal Logic and a co-director of the Critical Thinking and Civic Engagement Lab. Her most recent work is on voice-allocation in argumentation.

Date/Time: Thursday, November 12, 2026. The presentation begins at 12 noon & concludes at 1 pm.

Free to attend. Donations however, are gratefully accepted.

Location: SACPA sessions are held at Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO), Atrium Dining Room, 500 - 11 Street South, Lethbridge

Lunch and Refreshments: If you like, please arrive early to patronize the LSCO cafeteria and enjoy their excellent variety of good-value food/drink options in the Atrium Dining Room before/during the session