The Power of Critical Thinking : Effective Reasoning about Ordinary and Extraordinary Claims

Abstract

*=NEW TO THIS EDITION Preface 1. BASICS 1. THE POWER OF CRITICAL THINKING Why It Matters How It Works Summary Exercises Field Problems Self-Assessment Quiz CRITICAL THINKING AND WRITING: MODULE 1 Writing Assignments * 2. OBSTACLES TO CRITICAL THINKING * Psychological Obstacles * Philosophical Obstacles Summary Exercises Field Problems Self-Assessment Quiz Integrative Exercises CRITICAL THINKING AND WRITING: MODULE 2 Writing Assignments 3. MAKING SENSE OF ARGUMENTS Basics Judging Arguments Finding Missing Parts Patterns Diagramming Arguments Assessing Long Arguments Summary Field Problems Self-Assessment Quiz Integrative Exercises CRITICAL THINKING AND WRITING: MODULE 3 Writing Assignments 2. REASONS 4. REASONS FOR BELIEF AND DOUBT When Claims Conflict Experts and Evidence Personal Experience Fooling Ourselves Claims in the News Advertising and Persuasion Summary Exercises Field Problems Self-Assessment Quiz Integrative Exercises CRITICAL THINKING AND WRITING: MODULE 4 Writing Assignments 5. FAULTY REASONING Irrelevant Premises Unacceptable Premises Summary Exercises Field Problems Self-Assessment Quiz Integrative Exercises CRITICAL THINKING AND WRITING: MODULE 5 Writing Assignments 3. ARGUMENTS 6. DEDUCTIVE REASONING: PROPOSITIONAL LOGIC Connectives and Truth Values Checking for Validity Summary Field Problems Self-Assessment Quiz Integrative Exercises Writing Assignments 7. DEDUCTIVE REASONING: CATEGORICAL LOGIC Statements and Classes Translations and Standard Form Diagramming Categorical Statements Sizing Up Categorical Syllogisms Summary Field Problems Self-Assessment Quiz Integrative Exercises Writing Assignments 8. INDUCTIVE REASONING Enumerative Induction Analogical Induction Causal Arguments Summary Field Problems Self-Assessment Quiz Integrative Exercises Writing Assignments 4. EXPLANATIONS 9. INFERENCE TO THE BEST EXPLANATION Explanations and Inference Theories and Consistency Theories and Criteria Telling Good Theories from Bad Summary Field Problems Self-Assessment Quiz Integrative Exercises Writing Assignments 10. JUDGING SCIENTIFIC THEORIES Science and Not Science Scientific Method Testing Scientific Theories Judging Scientific Theories Science and Weird Theories Making Weird Mistakes Judging Weird Theories Summary Field Problems Self-Assessment Quiz Integrative Exercises Writing Assignments 11. JUDGING MORAL ARGUMENTS AND THEORIES Moral Arguments * Moral Premises Moral Theories Coherent Worldview Summary Exercises Field Problems Self-Assessment Quiz Integrative Exercises Writing Assignments APPENDIX A: ESSAYS FOR EVALUATION 1. Death Penalty Discriminates Against Black Crime Victims 2. Marine Parks 3. The Wrong Ruling on Vouchers 4. The Kalam Cosmological Argument 5. More Innocents Die When We Don't Have Capital Punishment 6. Misleading the Patient for Fun and Profit 7. Tight Limits on Stem Cells Betray Research Potential 8. The Cohabitation Epidemic 9. The Demon-Haunted Sentence: Skeptical Analysis of Reverse Speech 10. Amityville: Horror of It All 11. A Deviance from God's Norm 12. Marriage Still Evolving, as Ever 13. Slouching Toward Chimeras 14. The Right to Ridicule 15. to Think * 16. Torture: Time for Congress to End the Debate * 17. Torture: Severe Interrogations Work * 18. of Expression: Protect Student Speech-Even 'Unwise' Bong Banner * 19. of Expression: Policy Reflects Common Sense * 20. Amendment: Congress Nears Choice: Protect Freedom or Stoke Anger? * 21. Amendment: Flag Needs Protection APPENDIX B: ANSWERS TO EXERCISES Notes Glossary Credits Index

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