0415241197.Routledge.Critical.Reasoning.A.Practical.Introduction.Dec.2001.pdf

Chapter

Critical Reasoning

All the virtues of the ﬁrst edition – lucidity, judicious choice of real-

istic examples, emphasis on techniques rather than learning lists of

fallacies – are retained in the second edition. The changes are unob-

trusive and for the better. The updated examples maintain the topical

and contemporary feel and serve to underline the practical importance

of the techniques that the book propagates.

John Divers, Leeds University

We ﬁnd in Critical Reasoning discussions of the analysis and evalua-

tion of reasoning, and of recognising implication. Then there is a

chapter on clarity and precision, and summarizing arguments, and a

ﬁnal chapter on the evaluation of extended arguments. All of this is

done with admirable clarity, and supported by a wealth of useful exam-

ples and exercises.

Philosophical Books

We all engage in the process of reasoning, but we don’t always pay atten-

tion to whether we are doing it well. This book offers the opportunity to

practise reasoning in a clear-headed and critical way, with the aims of devel-

oping an awareness of the importance of reasoning well and of improving

the reader’s skill in analysing and evaluating arguments.

In this second edition of the highly successful Critical Reasoning: A

Practical Introduction , Anne Thomson has updated and revised the book to

include new and topical examples which will guide students through the

processes of critical reasoning in a clear and engaging way. By the end of

the book students should be able to:

• identify ﬂaws in arguments;

• analyse the reasoning in newspaper articles, books and speeches;

• approach any topic with the ability to reason clearly and think criti-

cally.

Anne Thomson is Honorary Lecturer and Fellow of the School of Economic

and Social Studies at the University of East Anglia.

EXERCISING THE SKILLS OF REASONING

Chapter 1

Critical

Reasoning

A Practical Introduction

2nd edition

Anne Thomson

London and New York

iii

First published 2002

by Routledge

11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE

Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada

by Routledge

29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group

This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2002.

reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,

or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including

photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or

retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Thomson, Anne.

Critical reasoning: a practical introduction /

Anne Thomson – 2nd edn

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Critical thinking.2. Reasoning.I. Title.

B809.2.T48 2001

160–dc21

2001034880

ISBN0–415–24119–7 (hbk)

ISBN0–415–24120–0 (pbk)

ISBN 0-203-47051-6 Master e-book ISBN

ISBN 0-203-77875-8 (Glassbook Format)

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika: