About the Book
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.
Table of Contents:
Analytic 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
