
Informal Logic
A Pragmatic Approach
Douglas Walton(Author)
Cambridge University Press
2nd Edition
Published on 2. June 2008
Book
Hardback
366 pages
978-0-521-88617-8 (ISBN)
Description
Second edition of the introductory guidebook to the basic principles of constructing sound arguments and criticising bad ones. Non-technical in approach, it is based on 186 examples, which Douglas Walton, a leading authority in the field of informal logic, discusses and evaluates in clear, illustrative detail. Walton explains how errors, fallacies, and other key failures of argument occur. He shows how correct uses of argument are based on sound strategies for reasoned persuasion and critical responses. This edition takes into account many developments in the field of argumentation study that have occurred since 1989, many created by the author. Drawing on these developments, Walton includes and analyzes 36 new topical examples and also brings in work on argumentation schemes. Ideally suited for use in courses in informal logic and introduction to philosophy, this book will also be valuable to students of pragmatics, rhetoric, and speech communication.
Reviews / Votes
"Walton here updates his fine book on informal logic/critical thinking...Probably the best work on critical thinking to date, this volume would be an excellent text for courses on informal logic...Summing up: Essential. "- R. Puligandla, University of Toledo, Choice
More details
Edition
2nd Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
College/higher education
Edition type
Revised edition
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 145 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
647 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-88617-8 (9780521886178)
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
Additional editions

E-Book
07/2008
2nd Edition
Cambridge University Press
€30.99
Available for download

E-Book
06/2008
Cambridge University Press
€26.99
Available for download
Previous edition

Book
07/1989
Cambridge University Press
€68.09
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Douglas Walton is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Winnipeg. The recipient of numerous fellowships, awards and honors, he is the author of over thirty books, most recently Fundamentals of Critical Argumentation, Media Argumentation, and Witness Testimony Evidence.
Content
1. Argument as reasoned dialogue; 2. Questions and answers in dialogue; 3. Criticism of irrelevance; 4. Appeals to emotion; 5. Valid arguments; 6. Personal attack in argumentation; 7. Appeals to authority; 8. Inductive errors, bias, and fallacies; 9. Natural language argumentation.