Good Reasoning Matters! A Constructive Approach to Critical Thinking

by Groarke, Leo A.; Tindale, Christopher W.; Fisher, Linda

• ISBN13: 9780195412253
• ISBN10: 0195412257
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-02-13
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

In this second edition of their successful book, the authors introduce over 150 new examples of argumentation from contemporary and ancient sources, ranging from Plato and Aristotle to university student newspapers. This completely revised edition also includes a section which gives sample answers to some of the many exercises found throughout the book. Many books on reasoning emphasize fallacies, or bad arguments--an emphasis that can promote the jaded attitude that logic is a tool of finding fault with arguments and arguers. This innovative approach to critical thinking emphasizes the construction of good arguments instead. By isolating and focusing on the components of good reasoning, it teaches readers how to reason well and build their own good arguments. Bad arguments are treated as those which violate the criteria governing the good arguments. Analyzing bad arugments in this manner requires time and thought and avoids the hasty application of a fallacy label. Recognizing the importance of rhetorical considerations, this book also moves beyond traditional approaches to logic by introducing readers to the importance and intricacies of audience.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	xi	(2)
Introduction	xiii
A Note to the Student	xiii	(1)
A Note to the Instructor	xiv
1 Reading Between the Lines	1	(16)
1. Informative Language	1	(2)
2. Reading Between the Lines	3	(1)
Exercise 1A	4	(1)
3. Biases and Vested Interest	4	(1)
4. Biased Reasoning	4	(5)
Exercise 1B	9	(1)
5. Slanting by Omission and Distortion	9	(4)
6. Two Kinds of Propaganda	13
Exercise 1C	15
7. Summary	7	(10)
Major Exercise 1M	16	(1)
2 Looking for an Argument	17	(26)
1. Identifying Arguments	18	(1)
2. Definitions	19	(1)
Exercise 2A	20	(1)
3. Distinguishing Arguments and Non-Arguments	21	(12)
Exercise 2B	33	(1)
4. Diagramming Arguments	33	(10)
Exercise 2C	39	(1)
Exercise 2D	39	(1)
Major Exercise 2M	40	(3)
3 Choosing Your Words	43	(18)
1. Using Words Precisely	44	(1)
2. Vagueness and Ambiguity	45	(4)
Exercise 3A	49	(1)
3. Formulating Definitions	49	(8)
Exercise 3B	55	(1)
4. Expressing Your Intended Meaning	57	(2)
5. Looking Ahead	59	(2)
Major Exercise 3M	59	(2)
4 Building Arguments	61	(22)
1. Abbreviated Arguments	62	(12)
Exercise 4A	71	(3)
2. Constructing Good Arguments	74	(9)
Exercise 4B	78	(1)
Exercise 4C	78	(1)
Exercise 4D	79	(1)
Major Exercise 4M	79	(4)
5 Evaluating Arguments	83	(18)
1. Good Arguments	84	(5)
2. Valid and Invalid Arguments	89	(4)
3. Forms of Argument	93	(2)
4. The Laws of Thought	95	(6)
Major Exercise 5M	98	(3)
6 Classifying Arguments	101	(29)
1. Categorical Statements	102	(5)
Exercise 6A	106	(1)
2. Immediate Inferences	107	(4)
Exercise 6B	110	(1)
3. Categorical Syllogisms	111	(4)
Exercise 6C	114	(1)
4. Testing Validity by Diagrams	115	(15)
Major Exercise 6M	126	(4)
7 Testing Syllogistic Arguments	130	(10)
1. Schematization	130	(1)
2. Distribution	131	(1)
3. Rules of Validity	132	(1)
4. Applying the Rules	133	(2)
5. Procedural Points	135	(5)
Major Exercise 7M	137	(3)
8 Some Ifs, Ands, and Buts	140	(33)
1. Simple and Complex Propositions	140	(7)
Exercise 8A	146	(1)
2. Translation in More Detail	147	(5)
Exercise 8B	151	(1)
3. Valid Propositional Arguments	152	(12)
4. Constructing Simple Proofs	164	(9)
Exercise 8C	166	(3)
Major Exercise 8M	169	(4)
9 Dilemmas and Reductions	173	(19)
1. Conditional Introduction	174	(2)
2. Reductio Ad Absurdum Arguments	176	(3)
3. Dilemma	179	(2)
4. Answering a Dilemma	181	(2)
5. De Morgan's Laws	183	(1)
6. Summary: Rules of Inference	184	(1)
Major Exercise 9M	185	(7)
10 Assessing the Basics	192	(37)
1. Ordinary Reasoning and Probability	193	(2)
2. Acceptability	195	(14)
Exercise 10A	208	(1)
3. Relevance	209	(4)
4. Contextual Relevance	213	(4)
Exercise 10B	216	(1)
5. Sufficiency	217	(5)
Exercise 10C	220	(2)
6. Applying the Criteria	222	(7)
Major Exercise 10M	225	(4)
11 Forms of Reasoning	229	(34)
1. Generalizations	230	(8)
Exercise 11A	237	(1)
2. Causal Reasoning	238	(8)
3. Slippery Slope Arguments	246	(4)
Exercise 11B	249	(1)
4. Arguments from Analogy	250	(5)
5. Appeals to Precedent	255	(7)
Exercise 11C	257	(1)
Major Exercise 11M	258	(5)
12 Further Forms	263	(32)
1. Two-Wrongs Reasoning	263	(4)
2. Two-Wrongs Reasoning by Analogy	267	(3)
Exercise 12A	269	(1)
3. Pro Homine and Ad Hominem Reasoning	270	(10)
4. Guilt by Association	280	(4)
Exercise 12B	282	(2)
5. Appeals to Ignorance	284	(3)
Exercise 12C	286	(1)
6. Other Cases	287	(8)
Exercise 12D	288	(1)
Major Exercise 12M	289	(6)
13 Essaying an Argument	295	(22)
1. The Good Evaluative Critique	296	(5)
Exercise 13A	299	(2)
2. The Good Argumentative Essay	301	(5)
Exercise 13B	306	(1)
3. A Student's Paper	306	(1)
4. Critique	307	(6)
5. Revision	313	(3)
6. Conclusion	316	(1)
Major Exercise 13M	316	(1)
Exercise Answers	317	(42)
Index	359