Critical Reflection

A Textbook for Critical Thinking

528 pages, 6 x 9 pouces
Livre de poche : 9780773528802, Avril 2005
Livre cartonné : 9780773528796, Avril 2005
Livre numérique (PDF) : 9780773583580, Mai 2011

Table des matières

Table des matières

Preface
Acknowledgements
PART ONE: Argument Structure
1 Overview
2 Argument Components
3 Mapping an Argument
PART TWO: Meaning
4 Language Use
5 Definitions
PART THREE: Truth
6 Acceptability Conditions
PART FOUR: Logic
7 Categorical Logic: Translation
8 Categorical Logic: Validity
9 Propositional Logic: Translation
10 Propositional Language: Validity
PART FIVE: Induction
11 Causation and Probability
12 Science
13 Arguments by Analogy
PART SIX: Fallacies
14 Fallacies
Appendices
1 Answer to Select Questions
2 A Bad Essay: ?Vegetarianism and Moral Duty?
3 Hints for Writing Philosophy Papers
Bibliography
Index

In an era of information overload, our need to learn how to critically evaluate the growing flood of information has never been greater. Critical Reflection showcases the role of reason in a world saturated by media-enhanced persuasion and complex scientific and technological jargon.
Drawing from the classic philosophical texts, this engaging textbook on the art of analyzing arguments is also relevant to today's undergraduates in its use of real-life examples and exercises drawn mainly from media and politics. Malcolm Murray and Nebojsa Kujundzic cover the standard subjects in a one-semester course on critical thinking, offering ways to analyze arguments in the following areas:
* language use
* acceptability conditions for truth
* categorical and propositional logic
* induction
* causal claims
* probability reasoning
* analogical reasoning
* an in-depth analysis of informal fallacies
Critical Reflection further distinguishes itself with in-depth answers to chapter exercises that are incorporated directly into the authors' detailed discussions. This is an ideal textbook to help professors foster autonomous thinking among their students.