
Critical Thinking: The Basics
Stuart Hanscomb(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Published on 23. November 2016
Book
Hardback
252 pages
978-1-138-82623-6 (ISBN)
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Description
Critical Thinking: The Basics is an accessible and engaging introduction to the field of critical thinking, drawing on philosophy, communication and psychology. Emphasising its relevance to decision making (in personal, professional and civic life), academic literacy and personal development, this book supports the reader in understanding and developing the knowledge and skills needed to avoid poor reasoning, reconstruct and evaluate arguments, and engage constructively in dialogues.
Topics covered include:
the relationship between critical thinking, emotions and the psychology of persuasion
the role of character dispositions such as open-mindedness, courage and perseverance
argument identification and reconstruction
fallacies and argument evaluation.
With discussion questions/exercises and suggestions for further reading at the end of each main chapter, this book is an essential read for students approaching the field of critical thinking for the first time, and for the general reader wanting to improving their thinking skills and decision making abilities.
Topics covered include:
the relationship between critical thinking, emotions and the psychology of persuasion
the role of character dispositions such as open-mindedness, courage and perseverance
argument identification and reconstruction
fallacies and argument evaluation.
With discussion questions/exercises and suggestions for further reading at the end of each main chapter, this book is an essential read for students approaching the field of critical thinking for the first time, and for the general reader wanting to improving their thinking skills and decision making abilities.
Reviews / Votes
Critical Thinking: The Basics covers the basics engagingly and without unnecessary jargon, provides lots of well-chosen examples and practice exercises, and, unlike most critical thinking textbooks, explains the theoretical background to the recent rise of critical thinking in education. Justine Kingsbury, University of Waikato, New ZealandThis is an excellent contribution to the growing literature on critical thinking. The discussion on causal reasoning, heuristics and biases, framing, social power, metacognition, and self-deception are timely and valuable. Critical Thinking: The Basics helps to bring together the literature on the psychology and sociology of human judgement with the philosophical art of argument analysis. Ted Poston, University of South Alabama, USA
This text is loaded with references, explanations, history and examples from the development and enhancement of the understanding of critical thinking. It offers a coverage of the basics of critical thinking and also provides a sense of how the field and individual expectations of critical thinking are changing. Charles Blatz, Professor Emeritus at University of Toledo, USA.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Weight
362 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-138-82623-6 (9781138826236)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions

Stuart Hanscomb
Critical Thinking: The Basics
Book
06/2023
2nd Edition
Routledge
€200.86
Shipment within 10-20 days
Additional editions

Stuart Hanscomb
Critical Thinking: The Basics
Book
11/2016
1st Edition
Routledge
€44.75
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Stuart Hanscomb is a lecturer in Philosophy & Communication at the School of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Glasgow, UK
Content
Introduction: Waking up to bad arguments
Chapter 1: Rationality, biases and emotions
Chapter 2: Critical Thinking and Dispositions
Chapter 3: Arguments and argument reconstruction
Chapter 4: Argument forms and fallacies
Chapter 5: Arguments referring to expertise, power, and message source
Chapter 6: Causal arguments, generalisation, arguments from consequences and slippery slope arguments.
Chapter 7: Arguments from analogy
Chapter 8: Further fallacies
Conclusion
Glossary
References
Chapter 1: Rationality, biases and emotions
Chapter 2: Critical Thinking and Dispositions
Chapter 3: Arguments and argument reconstruction
Chapter 4: Argument forms and fallacies
Chapter 5: Arguments referring to expertise, power, and message source
Chapter 6: Causal arguments, generalisation, arguments from consequences and slippery slope arguments.
Chapter 7: Arguments from analogy
Chapter 8: Further fallacies
Conclusion
Glossary
References