The Voice of Reason

Fundamentals of Critical Thinking

Burton Porter (Autor)

Buch | Softcover

384 Seiten

2001
Oxford University Press (Verlag)
978-0-19-514122-1 (ISBN)

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This introduction to critical thinking covers the areas of thought and language; systematic reasoning; and modes of proof. In addition to traditional topics, the book presents the different rules of evidence in fields such as law, science, literature, and history.

This introduction to critical thinking covers the areas of (A) thought and language, (B) systematic reasoning, and (C) modes of proof. In addition to traditional topics such as ambiguity, definition, informal fallacies, deduction, and induction, this book uniquely presents the different rules of evidence in fields such as law, science, literature, and history. An accompanying Instructor's Manual contains the answers to the book's extensive exercises.

Analytic Table of Contents:
Preface:
1. CRITICAL THINKING
By Force of Argument
Avoiding Self-Contradiction
Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles:
How Words Have Meaning
Using Terms and Mentioning Them
Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles:
PART I. THOUGHT AND LANGUAGE
2. THE WAY WORDS WORK
The Basic Ingredients: Intension and Extension
The Connotation of Words
Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles:
Vagueness--Seeing Dimly
Ambiguity--Seeing Double
Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles:
3. LANGUAGE AND DEFINITION
Types of Definitions: Stipulative and Reportive
Synonym and Example Definitions
Applications
Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles:
Avoiding Definition Mistakes
Applications
Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles:
PART II. SYSTEMATIC REASONING
4. DISAGREEMENTS, CLAIMS, AND REASONS
Types of Disagreements: Factual and Verbal
Interpretive and Evaluative Disagreements
Applications
Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles:
Reasoning Things Out: Truth and Relevance in Arguments
Adequate Proof and Alternative Possibilities
Summary
Applications
Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles:
5. COMMON MISTAKES IN THINKING
Argument to the Person and from Authority
Threat of Force and Appeal to Pity
Applications
Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles:
Straw Person and Poisoning the Well
The Slippery Slope and the Gambler's Fallacy
Applications
Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles:
6. MORE SUBTLE ERRORS OF THOUGHT
The Fallacy of Sweeping Generalization and Hasty Generalization
Begging the Question and Complex Question
Applications
Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles:
The Argument From Ignorance and to the Masses
False Cause and Irrelevant Conclusion
Applications
Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles:
7. REASONING IN A FORMAL WAY
The Structure of Arguments: Conclusions and Premises (Claims and Warrants)
Paraphrasing Statements and Seeing Implications
Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles:
Syllogisms and Enthymemes
Validity and Truth
Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles:
8. PATTERNS OF DEDUCTIVE THINKING
Using Categorical Arguments
Applications
Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles:
Hypotheticals: The If/Then Form
Applications
Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles:
Disjunctives: Either/Or Alternatives
Applications
Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles:
9. INDUCTIVE THINKING: IDENTIFYING CAUSES, DRAWING ANALOGIES
Causation: The Consequent and The Subsequent
Establishing Causal Connections
Summary
Applications
Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles:
Similes, Metaphors, and Analogies
Using Analogical Arguments Effectively
Summary
Applications
Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles:
10. DERIVING GENERALIZATIONS, FORMING HYPOTHESES
Generalizing and Describing
Using a Fair Sample
Applications
Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles:
The Explanatory Hypothesis
Developing an Adequate Hypotheses
Summary
Applications
Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles:
PART III. MODES OF PROOF
11. DISCOURSE COMMUNITIES
The Rhetoric of Politicians
"Keynote Address, Democratic National Convention, 1984," Mario Cuomo
Persuasion in Advertising
"Ogilvy on Advertising," David Ogilvy
The Legal Case
"Gregg V. Georgia," Supreme Court
Debates About Social Issues
"Pornography, Obscenity, & the Case for Censorship," Irving Kristol
Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles:
12. ARGUMENTS IN THE DISCIPLINES
Literary Explication
"Robert Frost: The Way to the Poem," John Ciardi
Scientific Verification
"Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids," J.D. Watson and F.H.C. Crick
"Can We Know the Universe? Reflections on a Grain of Sand," Carl Sagan
Historical Explanation
"The Causes of the Great Crash," John Kenneth Galbraith
Ethical Justification
"A Defense of Abortion," Judith Jarvis Thomson
Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles:
APPENDIX
Classifying: Genus and Differentia
Analytic and Synthetic Sentences
Partial Solution Guide to Assignments, Exercises, Puzzles
Index

Erscheint lt. Verlag	8.11.2001
Zusatzinfo	26 line illus
Verlagsort	Oxford
Sprache	englisch
Maße	237 x 165 mm
Gewicht	581 g
Themenwelt	Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Logik
Themenwelt	Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Sprachphilosophie
ISBN-10	0-19-514122-9 / 0195141229
ISBN-13	978-0-19-514122-1 / 9780195141221
Zustand	Neuware