Critical Thinking : A Student's Introduction

by Bassham, Gregory

• ISBN13: 9780072879599
• ISBN10: 0072879599
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-06-01
• Publisher: MCGRAW HILL

Table of Contents

Preface	v
CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Critical Thinking	1	(29)
What Is Critical Thinking?	1	(1)
Critical Thinking Standards	2	(6)
Clarity	2	(1)
Precision	2	(1)
Accuracy	3	(1)
Relevance	3	(2)
Consistency	5	(1)
Logical Correctness	6	(1)
Completeness	7	(1)
Fairness	7	(1)
The Benefits of Critical Thinking	8	(3)
Critical Thinking in the Classroom	8	(2)
Critical Thinking in the Workplace	10	(1)
Critical Thinking in Life	10	(1)
Barriers to Critical Thinking	11	(15)
Egocentrism	12	(2)
Sociocentrism	14	(2)
Unwarranted Assumptions and Stereotypes	16	(4)
Relativistic Thinking	20	(5)
Wishful Thinking	25	(1)
Characteristics of a Critical Thinker	26	(4)
CHAPTER 2 Recognizing Arguments	30	(25)
What is an Argument?	30	(4)
Identifying Premises and Conclusions	34	(6)
What Is Not an Argument?	40	(15)
Reports	41	(1)
Unsupported Assertions	42	(1)
Conditional Statements	42	(1)
Illustrations	43	(1)
Explanations	44	(11)
CHAPTER 3 Basic Logical Concepts	55	(35)
Deduction and Induction	55	(4)
How Can We Tell Whether an Argument Is Deductive or Inductive?	59	(5)
The Indicator Word Test	59	(1)
The Strict Necessity Test	60	(1)
The Common Pattern Test	61	(1)
The Principle of Charity Test	61	(2)
Exceptions to the Strict Necessity Test	63	(1)
Common Patterns of Deductive Reasoning	64	(6)
Hypothetical Syllogism	65	(3)
Categorical Syllogism	68	(1)
Argument by Elimination	68	(1)
Argument Based on Mathematics	68	(1)
Argument from Definition	69	(1)
Common Patterns of Inductive Reasoning	70	(5)
Inductive Generalization	70	(1)
Predictive Argument	70	(1)
Argument from Authority	71	(1)
Causal Argument	71	(1)
Statistical Argument	72	(1)
Argument from Analogy	72	(3)
Deductive Validity	75	(5)
Inductive Strength	80	(10)
CHAPTER 4 Language	90	(32)
Finding the Right Words: The Need for Precision	90	(6)
Vagueness	91	(1)
Overgenerality	92	(1)
Ambiguity	93	(3)
The Importance of Precise Definitions	96	(14)
Types of Definitions	97	(2)
Strategies for Defining	99	(5)
Rules for Constructing Good Definitions	104	(6)
Emotive Language: Slanting the Truth	110	(8)
The Emotive Power of Words	112	(6)
Euphemisms and Political Correctness	118	(4)
CHAPTER 5 Logical Fallacies-I	122	(21)
The Concept of Relevance	122	(3)
Fallacies of Relevance	125	(18)
Personal Attack (Ad Hominem)	125	(1)
Attacking the Motive	126	(1)
Look Who's Talking (Tu Quoque)	127	(1)
Two Wrongs Make a Right	128	(1)
Scare Tactics	129	(1)
Appeal to Pity	130	(1)
Bandwagon Argument	131	(1)
Straw Man	132	(1)
Red Herring	132	(1)
Equivocation	133	(2)
Begging the Question	135	(8)
CHAPTER 6 Logical Fallacies-II	143	(25)
Fallacies of Insufficient Evidence	143	(25)
Inappropriate Appeal to Authority	143	(4)
Appeal to Ignorance	147	(1)
False Alternatives	148	(2)
Loaded Question	150	(1)
Questionable Cause	151	(2)
Hasty Generalization	153	(1)
Slippery Slope	153	(2)
Weak Analogy	155	(2)
Inconsistency	157	(11)
CHAPTER 7 Analyzing Arguments	168	(32)
Diagramming Short Arguments	168	(12)
Tips on Diagramming Arguments	173	(7)
Summarizing Longer Arguments	180	(20)
Paraphrasing	180	(5)
Finding Missing Premises and Conclusions	185	(2)
Summarizing Extended Arguments	187	(5)
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Standardizing Arguments	192	(8)
CHAPTER 8 Evaluating Arguments	200	(22)
When Is an Argument a Good One?	200	(3)
What "Good Argument" Does Not Mean	200	(1)
What "Good Argument" Does Mean	201	(2)
When Is It Reasonable to Accept a Premise?	203	(13)
Appendix: Sample Critical Essay	216	(6)
CHAPTER 9 A Little Categorical Logic	222	(27)
Categorical Statements	222	(5)
Translating into Standard Categorical Form	227	(7)
Categorical Syllogisms	234	(15)
CHAPTER 10 A Little Propositional Logic	249	(33)
Conjunction	250	(3)
Conjunction and Validity	253	(5)
Negation	258	(4)
Deeper Analysis of Negation and Conjunction	262	(6)
Disjunction	268	(5)
Conditional Statements	273	(9)
CHAPTER 11 Inductive Reasoning	282	(45)
Introduction to Induction	282	(1)
Inductive Generalizations	283	(10)
Evaluating Inductive Generalizations	285	(4)
Opinion Polls and Inductive Generalizations	289	(4)
Statistical Arguments	293	(6)
Reference Class	296	(3)
Induction and Analogy	299	(11)
What Is an Analogy?	299	(1)
How Can We Argue by Analogy?	299	(2)
Evaluating Arguments from Analogy	301	(7)
Arguing by Analogy	308	(2)
Induction and Causal Arguments	310	(7)
Correlation and Cause	314	(3)
A Few Words about Probability	317	(10)
A Closer Look at a Priori Probability	318	(9)
CHAPTER 12 Finding, Evaluating, and Using Sources	327	(50)
Finding Sources	331	(8)
Refining Your Search	332	(1)
Directional Information	333	(3)
Informational Sources	336	(3)
Evaluating Sources	339	(17)
Content: Facts and Everything Else	340	(4)
The Author and the Publisher	344	(9)
The Audience	353	(3)
Taking Notes	356	(11)
Bibliographical Information	357	(1)
Content Notes: Quotes, Summaries, and Paraphrases	357	(10)
Using Sources	367	(10)
Acknowledging Sources	367	(4)
Incorporating Sources	371	(6)
CHAPTER 13 Writing Argumentative Essays	377	(42)
Writing a Successful Argument	379	(1)
Before You Write	380	(21)
Know Yourself	380	(2)
Know Your Audience	382	(3)
Choose and Narrow Your Topic	385	(3)
Write a Sentence That Expresses Your Claim	388	(1)
Gather Ideas: Brainstorm and Research	388	(7)
Organize Your Ideas	395	(6)
Writing the First Draft	401	(6)
Provide an Interesting Opening	402	(1)
Include a Thesis Statement	403	(1)
Develop Your Body Paragraphs	404	(1)
Provide a Satisfying Conclusion	405	(2)
After the First Draft	407	(12)
Read What You Have Written and Revise	408	(1)
Consider What You Have Not Written and Revise	408	(1)
Show Your Work	408	(1)
Edit Your Work	409	(1)
Hand It In	409	(1)
Sample Argumentative Essay	409	(10)
CHAPTER 14 Thinking Critically about the Media	419	(35)
The Mass Media	419	(1)
The News Media	420	(3)
The Importance of Context	420	(3)
Getting Us to Pay Attention: What Really Drives the Media	423	(2)
Keeping Our Interest: The News as Entertainment	425	(13)
How the Media Entertain Us	426	(12)
Media Literacy	438	(2)
Advertising	440	(14)
What Ads Do	440	(2)
Defenses of Advertising	442	(1)
Criticisms of Advertising	443	(1)
Common Advertising Ploys	444	(10)
CHAPTER 15 Science and Pseudoscience	454
The Basic Pattern of Scientific Reasoning	454	(7)
The Limitations of Science	461	(2)
How to Distinguish Science from Pseudoscience	463	(12)
Two Case Studies in Pseudoscience and the Paranormal	475
Astrology	475	(8)
Near-Death Experiences	483
Notes	N-1
Answers to Selected Exercises	A-1
Credits	C-1
Index	I-1