Description
Book SynopsisThe purpose of critical thinking, according to this text, is rethinking: that is, reviewing, evaluating, and revising thought. The approach of Critical Thinking for College Students is pragmatic and pluralistic: truth is viewed in terms of public confirmation and consensus, rather than with regard to naive realism, relativism, or popular opinion. The value of empathy and the legitimacy of diverse points of view are stressed. Nevertheless, it is necessary to use specific linguistic, logical, and evidential standards in order to evaluate thought. The primary elements of critical thinking are: proper definition paraphrasing reconstruction empathy analysis of arguments evaluation of reasoning brainstorming imagination problem solving The opening chapters of the text provide a thorough discussion of linguistic standards of meaning. A detailed examination of logical inference and informal fallacies follows. The final chapters of the book cover standards of evidence and problem solving. In
Trade ReviewFinally, a text that is not only about critical reasoning but is itself an excellent piece of philosophical thinking in its own right. We have needed a book like this for a long time. . . . It meets students where they are and takes them to a fresh and interesting engagement with the world of thinking. -- Donn Welton, SUNY, Stony Brook
Jon Stratton's textbook is a welcome, well-written approach to the study of critical thinking. It analyzes the character of arguments comprehensively—not only by examining standards for good reasoning, but by looking at the underlying communicative and emotional structure of discourse. -- James Liszka, Ph.D., University of Alaska, Anchorage
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Thinking, the Body, the Brain, and Language Chapter 3 A Closer Look at Critical Thinking Part 4 Verbal Thinking Chapter 5 The Nature of Language and the Standards of Critical Thinking Chapter 6 Attitudinal Standards and Empathy Part 7 Logical Thinking Chapter 8 Elements of Organization of Argument Chapter 9 Evaluating Arguments Chapter 10 Fallacies and the Eight Steps of Argument Evaluation Part 11 Verbal and Logical Thinking Chapter 12 Evidence Chapter 13 Application: The Format Part 14 Verbal, Logical, and Intuitive Thinking Chapter 15 Critical Thinking in the Home, at Work, and in the Community Chapter 16 Appendix Chapter 17 Suggested Reading Chapter 18 Index Chapter 19 About the Author
