MTU Library Catalogue

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Critical reasoning : a practical introduction / Anne Thomson.

By: Thomson, Anne.
Material type: materialTypeLabelBookPublisher: London ; New York : Routledge, 2009Edition: 3rd ed.Description: viii, 238 p. ; 26 cm.Content type: text Media type: unmediated Carrier type: volumeISBN: 9780415445863; 0415445868; 9780415445870.Subject(s): Critical thinking | Reasoning | Philosophy | Philosophy: logic | PhilosophyDDC classification: 160 THO
Contents:
Analysing reasoning -- Evaluating reasoning -- Recognising implications -- Evaluating evidence and authorities -- Two skills in the use of language -- Exercising the skills of reasoning -- Constructing reasoning.
Summary: Reasoning is the everyday process through which we draw conclusions from facts or evidence. This book provides a topical and exercise-based introduction to critical thinking.
Holdings
Item type Current library Call number Copy number Status Barcode
General lending MTU Kerry North Campus Library Ground Floor Main 160 THO (Browse shelf(Opens below)) 1 Available 38888000756894
General lending MTU Kerry North Campus Library Ground Floor Main 160 THO (Browse shelf(Opens below)) 1 Available 38888000756886
General lending MTU Kerry North Campus Library Ground Floor Main 160 THO (Browse shelf(Opens below)) 1 Available 38888000756878
General lending MTU Kerry North Campus Library Ground Floor Main 160 THO (Browse shelf(Opens below)) 1 Available 38888000756860
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

We all engage in the process of reasoning, but we don't always pay attention 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 developing an awareness of the importance of reasoning well and of improving the reader's skill in analyzing and evaluating arguments.

In this third edition, Anne Thomson has updated and revised the book to include fresh and topical examples which will guide students through the processes of critical reasoning in a clear and engaging way. In addition, two new chapters on evaluating the credibility of evidence and decision making and dilemmas will fully equip students to reason well. By the end of the book students should be able to:

identify flaws in arguments analyze the reasoning in newspaper articles, books and speeches assess the credibilty of evidence and authorities make sound decisions and solve dilemmas approach any topic with the ability to reason and think critically.

Formerly CIP. Uk

Includes bibliographical references (p. [233]-234) and index.

Analysing reasoning -- Evaluating reasoning -- Recognising implications -- Evaluating evidence and authorities -- Two skills in the use of language -- Exercising the skills of reasoning -- Constructing reasoning.

Reasoning is the everyday process through which we draw conclusions from facts or evidence. This book provides a topical and exercise-based introduction to critical thinking.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

  • Acknowledgements (p. ix)
  • Introduction (p. 1)
  • 1 Analysing Reasoning (p. 5)
  • Recognising Reasoning and Identifying Conclusions (p. 5)
  • Summary: Is it an Argument? (p. 11)
  • Exercise 1 Identifying Arguments and Conclusions (p. 11)
  • Identifying Reasons (p. 13)
  • Summary: Identifying Reasons in an Argument (p. 17)
  • Exercise 2 Offering Reasons for Conclusions (p. 17)
  • Exercise 3 Identifying Reasons (p. 18)
  • Exercise 4 Identifying Parts of an Argument (p. 20)
  • Exercise 5 Thinking About Assumptions (p. 22)
  • Identifying Assumptions (p. 23)
  • Summary: Identifying Assumptions in an Argument (p. 31)
  • Exercise 6 Identifying Someone Else's Assumptions (p. 31)
  • Exercise 7 Identifying Assumptions in Arguments (p. 32)
  • Exercise 8 Re-Working Exercise 5 (p. 34)
  • 2 Evaluating Reasoning (p. 35)
  • Revision: Parts of an Argument (p. 35)
  • Evaluating the Truth of Reasons and Assumptions (p. 36)
  • Evaluating Support for Conclusions (p. 37)
  • Summary: Evaluating Support for Conclusions (p. 39)
  • Identifying Flaws in Reasoning (p. 41)
  • Example 1 Violence on Television (p. 41)
  • Example 2 Affluence and Health (p. 43)
  • Example 3 Affluence and Health - A Connection? (p. 45)
  • Example 4 Exhaustion of Mineral Resources (p. 45)
  • Summary: Identifying Flaws in Arguments (p. 49)
  • Exercise 9 Identifying Flaws (p. 50)
  • Evaluating Further Evidence (p. 51)
  • Exercise 10 Evaluating Further Evidence (p. 52)
  • Questioning Explanations (p. 57)
  • Exercise 11 Offering Alternative Explanations (p. 59)
  • Summary: Evaluating Explanations (p. 60)
  • Exercise 12 Identifying and Evaluating Explanations (p. 60)
  • Evaluating Reasoning: The Necessary Skills (p. 66)
  • Summary: Using the Skills of Evaluation (p. 67)
  • Exercise 13 Practising the Skills (p. 67)
  • 3 Recognising Implications (p. 72)
  • Drawing Conclusions (p. 72)
  • Exercise 14 Drawing Conclusions (p. 74)
  • Exercise 15 Assessing Implications (p. 74)
  • Recognising Implications of Arguments (p. 77)
  • Exercise 16 Identifying Parallel Arguments (p. 79)
  • Exercise 17 Applying and Evaluating Principles (p. 81)
  • 4 Evaluating Evidence and Authorities (p. 83)
  • Reliability of Authorities (p. 83)
  • Summary: Assessing the Reliability of Evidence/Authorities (p. 85)
  • Plausibility of Claims (p. 86)
  • Evaluating Evidence and Drawing Conclusions (p. 87)
  • Example 1 Matt in the Night Club (p. 87)
  • Example 2 Is Homework for School Children Necessary or Desirable? (p. 88)
  • Example 3 Speed Cameras; do They Increase Road Safety? (p. 91)
  • Exercise 18 Evaluating the Reliability of Evidence (p. 95)
  • 5 Two Skills in the Use of Language (p. 102)
  • Using Language with Clarity and Precision (p. 102)
  • Exercise 19 Clarifying Words or Phrases (p. 104)
  • Summarising Arguments (p. 105)
  • Example 1 Nicotine for Smokers (p. 106)
  • Example 2 Subsidising the Arts (p. 107)
  • Summary: Summarising an Argument (p. 108)
  • Exercise 20 Summarising an Argument (p. 109)
  • 6 Exercising The Skills of Reasoning (p. 112)
  • Longer Passages of Reasoning (p. 112)
  • Two Examples of Evaluation of Reasoning (p. 114)
  • Example 1 We Should Recycle the Dead to Help the Living (p. 114)
  • Example 2 Getting to the Heart of the Matter (p. 121)
  • Summary: Assessing an Argument (p. 132)
  • Exercise 21 Ten Longer Passages to Evaluate (p. 133)
  • 7 Constructing Reasoning (p. 151)
  • Constructing Arguments (p. 151)
  • Example: The Safety of Cycle Helmets (p. 152)
  • Summary: Constructing Arguments (p. 156)
  • Making Rational Decisions (p. 157)
  • Summary: Decision Making (p. 159)
  • Exercise 22 Constructing Reasoning (p. 160)
  • Answers to Exercises (p. 161)
  • Exercise 1 Identifying Arguments and Conclusions (p. 161)
  • Exercise 3 Identifying Reasons (p. 164)
  • Exercise 4 Identifying Parts of an Argument (p. 168)
  • Exercise 7 Identifying Assumptions in Arguments (p. 174)
  • Exercise 8 Re-Working Exercise 5 (p. 180)
  • Exercise 9 Identifying Flaws (p. 183)
  • Exercise 10 Evaluating Further Evidence (p. 186)
  • Exercise 11 Offering Alternative Explanations (p. 192)
  • Exercise 12 Identifying and Evaluating Explanations (p. 193)
  • Exercise 13 Practising the Skills (p. 196)
  • Exercise 14 Drawing Conclusions (p. 207)
  • Exercise 15 Assessing Implications (p. 207)
  • Exercise 16 Identifying Parallel Arguments (p. 210)
  • Exercise 17 Applying and Evaluating Principles (p. 212)
  • Exercise 18 Evaluating Evidence (p. 213)
  • Exercise 19 Clarifying Words or Phrases (p. 216)
  • Exercise 20 Summarising an Argument (p. 217)
  • Exercise 21 Ten Longer Passages to Evaluate (p. 219)
  • Bibliography and further reading (p. 233)
  • Index (p. 235)

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Anne Thomson was formerly Honorary Lecturer and Fellow of the School of Economic and Social Studies at the University of East Anglia. She works for examination boards in the UK on tests of Critical Thinking, and is author of Critical Reasoning in Ethics (Routledge 1999).