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For anyone tackling philosophical logic and critical thinking for the first time, Critical Thinking: An Introduction to Reasoning Well provides a practical guide to the skills required to think critically. From the basics of good reasoning to the difference between claims, evidence and arguments, Robert Arp and Jamie Carlin Watson cover the topics found in an introductory course.Now revised and fully updated, this Second Edition features a glossary, chapter summaries, more student-friendly exercises, study questions, diagrams, and suggestions for further reading. Topics include:the structure, formation, analysis and recognition of argumentsdeductive validity and soundnessinductive strength and cogencyinference to the best explanationtruth tablestools for argument assessmentinformal and formal fallaciesWith real life examples, advice on graduate school entrance exams and an expanded companion website packed with additional exercises, an answer key and help with real life examples, this easy-to-follow introduction is a complete beginner's tool set to good reasoning, analyzing and arguing. Ideal for students in basic reasoning courses and students preparing for graduate school.
Preface to the Second Edition
Part I: The Basics of Good Reasoning
1. The Basic Tools of Reasoning
2. Evaluating Arguments
Part II: Deductive Reasoning
3. Thinking and Reasoning with Categories
4. Basic Propositional Logic
5. Truth Tables
6. Rules of Inference
Part III: Inductive Reasoning
7. Probability and Induction
8. Inductive Arguments
9. Experiment and Inference to the Best Explanation
10. Informal Fallacies
11. Putting it All Together
12. Reasoning on Graduate Entrance Exams
Glossary
Index
Description
For anyone tackling philosophical logic and critical thinking for the first time, Critical Thinking: An Introduction to Reasoning Well provides a practical guide to the skills required to think critically. From the basics of good reasoning to the difference between claims, evidence and arguments, Robert Arp and Jamie Carlin Watson cover the topics found in an introductory course.Now revised and fully updated, this Second Edition features a glossary, chapter summaries, more student-friendly exercises, study questions, diagrams, and suggestions for further reading. Topics include:the structure, formation, analysis and recognition of argumentsdeductive validity and soundnessinductive strength and cogencyinference to the best explanationtruth tablestools for argument assessmentinformal and formal fallaciesWith real life examples, advice on graduate school entrance exams and an expanded companion website packed with additional exercises, an answer key and help with real life examples, this easy-to-follow introduction is a complete beginner's tool set to good reasoning, analyzing and arguing. Ideal for students in basic reasoning courses and students preparing for graduate school.
