The Power of Critical Thinking
Effective Reasoning about Ordinary and Extraordinary Claims
6th Edition
Published on 20. September 2018
Book
Paperback/Softback
600 pages
978-0-19-085271-9 (ISBN)
Description
The Power of Critical Thinking: Effective Reasoning About Ordinary and Extraordinary Claims, Sixth Edition, provides the broadest range of tools to show students how critical thinking applies in their lives and the world around them. It explores the essentials of critical reasoning, argumentation, logic, and argumentative essay writing while also incorporating important topics that most other texts leave out, such as "inference to the best explanation,"
scientific reasoning, evidence and authority, visual reasoning, and obstacles to critical thinking.
scientific reasoning, evidence and authority, visual reasoning, and obstacles to critical thinking.
Reviews / Votes
"This is an excellent critical thinking book! I will likely adopt it for future classes. It is well written, engaging, appropriate for undergraduates, and has a lot of good exercises, including real-world applications. In addition, the cost is much more affordable than competing texts, without compromising the content."--Ken Hochstetter, College of Southern Nevada"The Power of Critical Thinking is a great textbook. Its strengths are its repetition of key ideas and the many real-world applications, like the connection between ESP and expectation. This text offers a taste of all areas of human reasoning in an accessible and intelligent manner. The fun information boxes will also keep students interested."--June Yang, Grossmont College
"Vaughn's textbook is one of the most readable critical thinking textbooks. It is written for freshmen college students, even those who are not fully prepared for college-level work. The self-assessment quizzes and integrated exercises are among the best features of this book."--Tobyn DeMarco, Bergen Community College
More details
Edition
6th edition
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
Illustrations
Weight
1060 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-085271-9 (9780190852719)
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
Person
Lewis Vaughn is the author or coauthor of several textbooks, including Philosophy Here and Now, Third Edition (2018), Writing Philosophy, Second Edition (2018), Living Philosophy, Second Edition (2017), and Concise Guide to Critical Thinking (2017), all published by Oxford University Press.
Content
Preface:
PART 1. BASICS
1. The Power of Critical Thinking
Why It Matters
How It Works
Claims and Reasons:
Reasons and Arguments:
Arguments in the Rough:
Key Words
Summary
Exercises
Field Problems
Self-Assessment Quiz
Writing Assignments
2. Obstacles to Critical Thinking
Psychological Obstacles
The Almighty Self:
The Power of the Group:
Philosophical Obstacles
Subjective Relativism:
Social Relativism:
Skepticism:
Key Words
Summary
Exercises
Field Problems
Self-Assessment Quiz
Integrative Exercises
Writing Assignments
3. Making Sense of Arguments
Argument Basics
Judging Arguments
Finding Missing Parts
Argument Patterns
Diagramming Arguments
Assessing Long Arguments
Key Words
Summary
Field Problems
Self-Assessment Quiz
Integrative Exercises
Writing Assignments
PART 2. REASONS
4. Reasons for Belief and Doubt
When Claims Conflict
Experts and Evidence
Personal Experience
Impairment:
Expectation:
Innumeracy and Probability:
Fooling Ourselves
Resisting Contrary Evidence:
Looking for Confirming Evidence:
Preferring Available Evidence:
* Evaulating Sources: The Internet and Beyond
* Fake News:
Advertising and Persuasion
Identification:
Slogans:
Misleading Comparisons:
Weasel Words:
Key Words
Summary
Exercises
Field Problems
Self-Assessment Quiz
Integrative Exercises
Writing Assignments
5. Fallacies and Persuaders
Fallacies: Irrelevant Premises
Genetic Fallacy:
Composition:
Division:
Appeal to the Person:
Equivocation:
Appeal to Popularity:
Appeal to Tradition:
Appeal to Ignorance:
Appeal to Emotion:
Red Herring:
Straw Man:
Two Wrongs Make a Right:
Fallacies: Unacceptable Premises
Begging the Question:
False Dilemma:
Decision-Point Fallacy:
Slippery Slope:
Hasty Generalization:
Faulty Analogy:
Persuaders: Rhetorical Moves
Innuendo:
Euphemisms and Dysphemisms:
Stereotyping:
Ridicule:
Rhetorical Definitions:
Key Words
Summary
Exercises
Field Problems
Self-Assessment Quiz
Integrative Exercises
Writing Assignments
PART 3. ARGUMENTS
6. Deductive Reasoning: Propositional Logic
Connectives and Truth Values
Conjunction:
Disjunction:
Negation:
Conditional:
Checking for Validity
Simple Arguments:
Tricky Arguments:
Streamlined Evaluation:
Proof of Validity
Rules of Inference:
Rules of Replacement:
Key Words
Summary
Field Problems
Self-Assessment Quiz
Integrative Exercises
Writing Assignments
7. Deductive Reasoning: Categorical Logic
Statements and Classes
Translations and Standard Form
Terms:
Quantifiers:
Diagramming Categorical Statements
Sizing Up Categorical Syllogisms
The Square of Opposition:
Categorical Equivalence:
Key Words
Summary
Field Problems
Self-Assessment Quiz
Integrative Exercises
Writing Assignments
8. Inductive Reasoning
Enumerative Induction
Sample Size:
Representativeness:
Opinion Polls:
Analogical Induction
Causal Arguments
Testing for Causes:
Causal Confusions:
Necessary and Sufficient Conditions:
Key Words
Summary
Field Problems
Self-Assessment Quiz
Integrative Exercises
Writing Assignments
PART 4. EXPLANATIONS
9. Inference to the Best Explanation
Explanations and Inference
Theories and Consistency
Theories and Criteria
Testability:
Fruitfulness:
Scope:
Simplicity:
Conservatism:
Telling Good Theories from Bad
A Doomed Flight:
An Amazing Cure:
Key Words
Summary
Field Problems
Self-Assessment Quiz
Integrative Exercises
Writing Assignments
10. Judging Scientific Theories
Science and Not Science
The Scientific Method
Testing Scientific Theories
Judging Scientific Theories
Copernicus Versus Ptolemy:
Evolution Versus Creationism:
Science and Weird Theories
Making Weird Mistakes
Leaping to the Weirdest Theory:
Mixing What Seems with What Is:
Misunderstanding the Possibilities:
Judging Weird Theories
Crop Circles:
Talking with the Dead:
Summary
Field Problems
Self-Assessment Quiz
Integrative Exercises
Writing Assignments
11. Critical Thinking in Morality and the Law
Moral Arguments
Moral Premises
Moral Theories
Evaluating Moral Theories:
Two Important Theories:
Legal Reasoning
A Coherent Worldview
Key Words
Summary
Exercises
Field Problems
Self-Assessment Quiz
Integrative Exercises
Writing Assignments
* Appendix A: The Truth About Philosophy Majors
Appendix B: Essays for Evaluation
1. Death Penalty Discriminates Against Black Crime Victims
2. Marine Parks
3. A Feminist Defense of Pornography
4. A Defense of Homosexuality
5. More Innocents Die When We Don't Have Capital Punishment
6. What's Wrong with Adultery?
7. A Pat-Down Is Better Than a Blow-Up
8. The Cohabitation Epidemic
9. Not Being Vaccinated Is Not Acceptable
10. Women and the Afghanistan Peace Process
11. A Deviance from God's Norm
12. Marriage Still Evolving, as Ever
13. Slouching Toward Chimeras
14. Fighting Islamic Extremists Who Stifle Free Speech
15. Is Sluttishness a Feminist Statement?
16. Torture: Time for Congress to End the Debate,
17. Torture: Severe Interrogations Work
18. Freedom of Expression: Protect Student Speech-Even "Unwise" Bong Banner
19. Freedom of Expression: Policy Reflects Common Sense
20. It's Irresponsible to Spread Fear of Vaccine
21. Flag Amendment: Flag Needs Protection
Appendix C. Answers to Exercises
Appendix D. Answers to Self-Assessment Quizzes
Appendix E. Critical Thinking and Writing
Notes:
Glossary:
Credits:
Index:
PART 1. BASICS
1. The Power of Critical Thinking
Why It Matters
How It Works
Claims and Reasons:
Reasons and Arguments:
Arguments in the Rough:
Key Words
Summary
Exercises
Field Problems
Self-Assessment Quiz
Writing Assignments
2. Obstacles to Critical Thinking
Psychological Obstacles
The Almighty Self:
The Power of the Group:
Philosophical Obstacles
Subjective Relativism:
Social Relativism:
Skepticism:
Key Words
Summary
Exercises
Field Problems
Self-Assessment Quiz
Integrative Exercises
Writing Assignments
3. Making Sense of Arguments
Argument Basics
Judging Arguments
Finding Missing Parts
Argument Patterns
Diagramming Arguments
Assessing Long Arguments
Key Words
Summary
Field Problems
Self-Assessment Quiz
Integrative Exercises
Writing Assignments
PART 2. REASONS
4. Reasons for Belief and Doubt
When Claims Conflict
Experts and Evidence
Personal Experience
Impairment:
Expectation:
Innumeracy and Probability:
Fooling Ourselves
Resisting Contrary Evidence:
Looking for Confirming Evidence:
Preferring Available Evidence:
* Evaulating Sources: The Internet and Beyond
* Fake News:
Advertising and Persuasion
Identification:
Slogans:
Misleading Comparisons:
Weasel Words:
Key Words
Summary
Exercises
Field Problems
Self-Assessment Quiz
Integrative Exercises
Writing Assignments
5. Fallacies and Persuaders
Fallacies: Irrelevant Premises
Genetic Fallacy:
Composition:
Division:
Appeal to the Person:
Equivocation:
Appeal to Popularity:
Appeal to Tradition:
Appeal to Ignorance:
Appeal to Emotion:
Red Herring:
Straw Man:
Two Wrongs Make a Right:
Fallacies: Unacceptable Premises
Begging the Question:
False Dilemma:
Decision-Point Fallacy:
Slippery Slope:
Hasty Generalization:
Faulty Analogy:
Persuaders: Rhetorical Moves
Innuendo:
Euphemisms and Dysphemisms:
Stereotyping:
Ridicule:
Rhetorical Definitions:
Key Words
Summary
Exercises
Field Problems
Self-Assessment Quiz
Integrative Exercises
Writing Assignments
PART 3. ARGUMENTS
6. Deductive Reasoning: Propositional Logic
Connectives and Truth Values
Conjunction:
Disjunction:
Negation:
Conditional:
Checking for Validity
Simple Arguments:
Tricky Arguments:
Streamlined Evaluation:
Proof of Validity
Rules of Inference:
Rules of Replacement:
Key Words
Summary
Field Problems
Self-Assessment Quiz
Integrative Exercises
Writing Assignments
7. Deductive Reasoning: Categorical Logic
Statements and Classes
Translations and Standard Form
Terms:
Quantifiers:
Diagramming Categorical Statements
Sizing Up Categorical Syllogisms
The Square of Opposition:
Categorical Equivalence:
Key Words
Summary
Field Problems
Self-Assessment Quiz
Integrative Exercises
Writing Assignments
8. Inductive Reasoning
Enumerative Induction
Sample Size:
Representativeness:
Opinion Polls:
Analogical Induction
Causal Arguments
Testing for Causes:
Causal Confusions:
Necessary and Sufficient Conditions:
Key Words
Summary
Field Problems
Self-Assessment Quiz
Integrative Exercises
Writing Assignments
PART 4. EXPLANATIONS
9. Inference to the Best Explanation
Explanations and Inference
Theories and Consistency
Theories and Criteria
Testability:
Fruitfulness:
Scope:
Simplicity:
Conservatism:
Telling Good Theories from Bad
A Doomed Flight:
An Amazing Cure:
Key Words
Summary
Field Problems
Self-Assessment Quiz
Integrative Exercises
Writing Assignments
10. Judging Scientific Theories
Science and Not Science
The Scientific Method
Testing Scientific Theories
Judging Scientific Theories
Copernicus Versus Ptolemy:
Evolution Versus Creationism:
Science and Weird Theories
Making Weird Mistakes
Leaping to the Weirdest Theory:
Mixing What Seems with What Is:
Misunderstanding the Possibilities:
Judging Weird Theories
Crop Circles:
Talking with the Dead:
Summary
Field Problems
Self-Assessment Quiz
Integrative Exercises
Writing Assignments
11. Critical Thinking in Morality and the Law
Moral Arguments
Moral Premises
Moral Theories
Evaluating Moral Theories:
Two Important Theories:
Legal Reasoning
A Coherent Worldview
Key Words
Summary
Exercises
Field Problems
Self-Assessment Quiz
Integrative Exercises
Writing Assignments
* Appendix A: The Truth About Philosophy Majors
Appendix B: Essays for Evaluation
1. Death Penalty Discriminates Against Black Crime Victims
2. Marine Parks
3. A Feminist Defense of Pornography
4. A Defense of Homosexuality
5. More Innocents Die When We Don't Have Capital Punishment
6. What's Wrong with Adultery?
7. A Pat-Down Is Better Than a Blow-Up
8. The Cohabitation Epidemic
9. Not Being Vaccinated Is Not Acceptable
10. Women and the Afghanistan Peace Process
11. A Deviance from God's Norm
12. Marriage Still Evolving, as Ever
13. Slouching Toward Chimeras
14. Fighting Islamic Extremists Who Stifle Free Speech
15. Is Sluttishness a Feminist Statement?
16. Torture: Time for Congress to End the Debate,
17. Torture: Severe Interrogations Work
18. Freedom of Expression: Protect Student Speech-Even "Unwise" Bong Banner
19. Freedom of Expression: Policy Reflects Common Sense
20. It's Irresponsible to Spread Fear of Vaccine
21. Flag Amendment: Flag Needs Protection
Appendix C. Answers to Exercises
Appendix D. Answers to Self-Assessment Quizzes
Appendix E. Critical Thinking and Writing
Notes:
Glossary:
Credits:
Index: