The Art of Thinking: A Guide to Critical and Creative Thought

by Ruggiero, Vincent Ryan

• ISBN13: 9780321076373
• ISBN10: 0321076370
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-07-01
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley

Summary

Accessible and engaging, this unique book offers strategies for critical and creative thinking and includes many opportunities for practicing these fundamental skills."This book introduces readers to the principles and techniques of critical thinking, taking them step by step through the problem solving process. Emphasizing creative and active thought processes, the author asserts that good thinking isn't merely knowing what "not" to do; it is knowing what "to" do. Discussions of how to evaluate ideas and how to question long held assumptions or biases help readers look at concepts critically. Brief guides to composing, speaking, and logic show readers how to apply the skills that enable them to become clear and creative thinkers. Individuals interested in sharpening their creative and critical thinking skills.

Table of Contents

To the Instructor	xv
Developing Your Thinking: An Overview	1	(20)
What Is Thinking?	2	(1)
The Importance of Thinking	3	(1)
Brain and Mind at Work	4	(2)
The Production Phase	5	(1)
The Judgment Phase	5	(1)
Good Thinking Is a Habit	6	(1)
The Structure of This Book	6	(1)
Getting the Most from Your Efforts	7	(1)
Using Feelings to Advantage	8	(1)
Learning to Concentrate	9	(1)
Coping with Frustration	10	(1)
Preliminary Thinking Strategies	10	(2)
Sample Exercises and Responses	12	(9)
Warm-Up Exercises	14	(1)
Applications	14	(3)
Composition or Speech Exercise	17	(4)
Part I Be Aware
Establish a Foundation	21	(19)
Free Will versus Determinism	22	(1)
What Is Truth?	23	(1)
What Is Knowing?	24	(2)
Ways of Knowing	26	(2)
Experience	26	(1)
Observation	27	(1)
Report	27	(1)
The Problem of Remembering	28	(1)
What Are Opinions?	29	(1)
Expressions of Taste	29	(1)
Expressions of Judgment	30	(1)
Debating Moral Questions	30	(2)
The Basis of Moral Judgment	32	(2)
Dealing with Dilemmas	34	(6)
Warm-Up Exercises	35	(1)
Applications	35	(4)
Composition or Speech Exercise	39	(1)
Broaden Your Perspective	40	(15)
Becoming an Individual	42	(2)
Habits That Hinder Thinking	44	(7)
The Mine-Is-Better Habit	44	(1)
Face Saving	45	(1)
Resistance to Change	46	(2)
Conformity	48	(1)
Stereotyping	49	(1)
Self-Deception	50	(1)
Overcoming Bad Habits	51	(4)
Warm-Up Exercises	52	(1)
Applications	52	(2)
Composition or Speech Exercise	54	(1)
Be a Critical Reader	55	(24)
Critical Reading Defined	56	(1)
Making Important Distinctions	57	(3)
The Distinction Between the Person and the Idea	57	(1)
The Distinction Between Matters of Taste and Matters of Judgment	57	(1)
The Distinction Between Fact and Interpretation	58	(1)
The Distinction Between Literal and Ironic Statements	58	(1)
The Distinction Between an Idea's Validity and the Quality of Its Expression	59	(1)
The Distinction Between Language and Reality	59	(1)
A Strategy for Critical Reading	60	(3)
Skim	61	(1)
Reflect	62	(1)
Read	62	(1)
Evaluate	62	(1)
Expressing Your Judgment	63	(1)
A Sample Evaluation	64	(15)
Warm-Up Exercises	66	(1)
Applications	66	(9)
Composition or Speech Exercise	75	(4)
Part II Be Creative
The Creative Process	79	(13)
Key Facts About Creativity	80	(2)
Characteristics of Creative People	82	(2)
Applying Creativity to Problems and Issues	84	(3)
Taking a Novel Approach	84	(1)
Devising or Modifying a Process or System	84	(1)
Inventing a New Product or Service	85	(1)
Finding New Uses for Existing Things	85	(1)
Improving Things	86	(1)
Inventing or Redefining a Concept	86	(1)
Stages in the Creative Process	87	(5)
The First Stage: Searching for Challenges	87	(1)
The Second Stage: Expressing the Problem or Issue	87	(1)
The Third Stage: Investigating the Problem or Issue	88	(1)
The Fourth Stage: Producing Ideas	88	(1)
Warm-Up Exercises	89	(1)
Applications	89	(1)
Composition or Speech Exercise	90	(2)
Search for Challenges	92	(13)
The Importance of Curiosity	93	(1)
How Curiosity Is Lost	94	(1)
Regaining Your Curiosity	95	(1)
Six Helpful Techniques	96	(9)
Be Observant	96	(1)
Look for Imperfections	97	(1)
Note Your Own and Others' Dissatisfactions	98	(1)
Search for Causes	98	(1)
Be Sensitive to Implications	99	(1)
Recognize the Opportunity in Controversy	100	(1)
Warm-Up Exercises	100	(1)
Applications	101	(3)
Composition or Speech Exercise	104	(1)
Express the Problem or Issue	105	(11)
Distinguishing Problems from Issues	106	(1)
Expressing Problems	106	(1)
Expressing Issues	107	(1)
When Problems Become Issues	108	(1)
Guidelines for Expressing Problems and Issues	109	(1)
Benefits of Careful Expression	109	(2)
It Helps You Move Beyond the Familiar and Habitual	109	(1)
It Keeps Your Thinking Flexible	109	(1)
It Opens Many Lines of Thought	110	(1)
A Sample Problem	111	(1)
A Sample Issue	112	(4)
Warm-Up Exercises	113	(1)
Applications	113	(2)
Composition or Speech Exercise	115	(1)
Investigate the Problem or Issue	116	(16)
Three Sources of Information	117	(3)
Yourself	118	(1)
People Around You	119	(1)
Authorities	120	(1)
Maintaining a Questioning Perspective	120	(1)
Managing an Interview	121	(1)
Using the Library	122	(2)
Conducting Your Own Research	124	(2)
The Survey	124	(1)
The Observational Study	125	(1)
The Experiment	125	(1)
Keeping Creativity Alive	126	(6)
Warm-Up Exercises	126	(1)
Applications	127	(3)
Composition or Speech Exercise	130	(2)
Produce Ideas	132	(19)
Stimulating Your Imagination	133	(4)
Force Uncommon Responses	134	(1)
Use Free Association	134	(1)
Use Analogy	134	(1)
Look for Unusual Combinations	135	(1)
Visualize the Solution	135	(1)
Construct Pro and Con Arguments	135	(1)
Construct Relevant Scenarios	136	(1)
Aiming for Originality	137	(1)
Withholding Judgment	138	(1)
Overcoming Obstacles	138	(2)
Thinker's Block	138	(1)
Vagueness and Confusion	139	(1)
Inflexibility	139	(1)
How Insight Occurs	140	(1)
A Sample Problem	141	(2)
A Sample Issue	143	(8)
Warm-Up Exercises	145	(1)
Applications	145	(2)
Composition or Speech Exercise	147	(4)
Part III Be Critical
The Role of Criticism	151	(11)
Why Criticism Is Necessary	152	(1)
Focus on Your Ideas	152	(1)
Overcoming Obstacles to Critical Thinking	153	(1)
Applying Curiosity	153	(1)
Avoiding Assumptions	154	(1)
Refining Your Solutions to Problems	155	(1)
A Sample Problem	155	(1)
Refining Your Positions on Issues	156	(1)
A Sample Issue	157	(5)
Taking Action on the Issue	157	(1)
Warm-Up Exercises	158	(1)
Applications	159	(2)
Composition or Speech Exercise	161	(1)
Refine Your Solution to the Problem	162	(11)
Three Steps in Refining	163	(3)
Working Out the Details	163	(1)
Finding Imperfections and Complications	164	(1)
Making Improvements	165	(1)
Two Sample Problems	166	(7)
The First Problem	166	(2)
The Second Problem	168	(1)
Warm-Up Exercises	169	(1)
Applications	170	(1)
Composition or Speech Exercise	171	(2)
Evaluate Your Argument on the Issue	173	(16)
Errors Affecting Truth	173	(4)
Either/Or Thinking	174	(1)
Avoiding the Issue	174	(1)
Overgeneralizing	175	(1)
Oversimplifying	176	(1)
Double Standard	176	(1)
Shifting the Burden of Proof	176	(1)
Irrational Appeal	177	(1)
Errors Affecting Validity	177	(2)
A Special Problem: The Hidden Premise	179	(1)
Recognizing Complex Arguments	180	(2)
Steps in Evaluating an Argument	182	(1)
The Case of Parents Protesting TV Programs	182	(1)
The Case of the Mentally Impaired Girls	183	(6)
Warm-Up Exercises	184	(1)
Applications	185	(3)
Composition or Speech Exercise	188	(1)
Refine Your Resolution of the Issue	189	(10)
Deciding What Action Should Be Taken	190	(1)
Recognizing and Overcoming Difficulties	190	(1)
Should Children Pledge Allegiance?	191	(1)
Should the Miranda Rule Be Abolished?	192	(7)
Warm-Up Exercises	193	(1)
Applications	194	(2)
Composition or Speech Exercise	196	(3)
Part IV Communicate Your Ideas
Anticipate Negative Reactions	199	(11)
How Common Are Negative Reactions?	200	(1)
Why People React Negatively	201	(1)
Common Negative Reactions	202	(1)
Anticipating Specific Reactions	203	(7)
The Brainstorming Technique	203	(1)
The Imaginary-Dialogue Technique	203	(2)
Warm-Up Exercises	205	(1)
Applications	205	(3)
Composition or Speech Exercise	208	(2)
Build a Persuasive Case	210	(14)
How Persuasion Is Achieved	211	(1)
Using Evidence Effectively	212	(1)
Presenting Ideas Skillfully	213	(1)
Respect Your Audience	213	(1)
Begin with the Familiar	213	(1)
Select the Most Appropriate Tone	214	(1)
Answer All Significant Objections	214	(1)
The Importance of Timing	214	(1)
A Sample Situation	215	(9)
Warm-Up Exercises	219	(1)
Applications	220	(3)
Composition or Speech Exercise	223	(1)
Appendix A A Guide to Composition	224	(11)
Four Important Characteristics	224	(2)
A Strategy for Composing	226	(4)
Prewriting	226	(2)
Planning	228	(1)
Drafting	229	(1)
Revising	230	(1)
Editing	230	(1)
Developing a Readable Style	230	(2)
A Sample Analytical Paper	232	(3)
Appendix B A Guide to Formal Speaking, Conversation, and Group Discussion	235	(10)
Formal Speaking	235	(5)
Types of Speeches	235	(1)
Organizing Your Material	236	(1)
Sample Outline and Speech	237	(2)
Practicing the Delivery	239	(1)
Conversation	240	(3)
Contributing to Conversation	240	(1)
Listening Well	241	(1)
Improving Your Listening Skills	241	(2)
Group Discussion	243	(2)
Appendix C The Fundamentals of Formal Logic	245	(7)
Three Basic Principles	245	(1)
Formal Argument	246	(1)
Common Errors in Syllogisms	246	(4)
The Undistributed Middle	247	(1)
Illicit Process	247	(1)
Affirming the Consequent	248	(1)
Denying the Antecedent	248	(1)
Converting a Conditional	248	(1)
Negating Antecedent and Consequent	249	(1)
Solutions to Sample Problems	250	(2)
The Three Glasses Problem	250	(1)
The Young Girl/Old Woman Problem	250	(1)
The Vase and Faces Problem	251	(1)
Notes	252	(9)
Index	261