Critical Thinking: An Introduction to Reasoning Well

by Robert Arp

Critical An Introduction to Reasoning Well provides a concise and accessible introduction to logic and critical reasoning. Designed specifically to meet the needs of undergraduate students encountering philosophical logic and critical thinking for the first time, this comprehensive textbook covers all the themes and topics typically covered in an introductory course. Topics covered •the structure, formation, analysis and recognition of arguments
•deductive validity and soundness
•inductive strength and cogency
•inference to the best explanation
•truth tables
•tools for argument assessment
•informal and formal fallacies Designed for classroom use, the book features a host of student-friendly exercises, examples, study questions, diagrams, and suggestions for further reading. Ideal for undergraduate students in philosophy and beyond, it also includes full coverage of the reasoning problems typically found on graduate school entrance exams. Guiding students to all the skills and tools necessary for effective critical thinking, the text is supplemented throughout with real life examples that highlight the immense value of thinking critically.

Genres: Philosophy

352 pages, Paperback

First published April 28, 2011

About the author

Robert Arp, Ph.D. (Saint Louis University, 2005), has taught Philosophy at Southwest Minnesota State University, Florida State University, and many schools in Missouri, before doing postdoctoral research in ontology through the National Center for Biomedical Ontology with Mark Musen and Barry Smith at the University at Buffalo.

Reviews

[Mitch Flitcroft · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was quite unimpressed by this text. It lacked the rigour I expected from a critical thinking text, particularly in the analogies and thought experiments used when conveying an argument. Wouldn't recommend.