Critical thinking is seldom effective at encouraging students to challenge and examine preconceived positions. There is a tendency to use the rigorous questioning methods to defend preconceived positions and deflect the serious consideration of alternatives. An exercise that focused on the Cuban missile crisis is described. (MLW)

Humanities courses in the discussion format can clarify existential problems of the human condition that face students. The craft of teaching lies in assisting the learner out of ignorance into an increased awareness of what it means to be humanly alive. The teacher as catalyst is described. (MLW)