Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 168
•
Trim: 6 x 9
978-0-7425-5979-0 • Paperback • February 2008 • $34.00 • (£25.00)
Daniel E. Flage is professor of philosophy at James Madison University. His previous publications have been in critical thinking, logic, and history of modern philosophy. Noel Hendrickson is assistant professor of philosophy at James Madison University. He has previously published papers in analytic metaphysics and action theory. His current research focuses on counterfactual reasoning and reasoning methods in intelligence analysis. Kirk St. Amant is associate professor of technical communication and rhetoric at Texas Tech University. His previous publications have focused on intercultural communication, computer-mediated communication, and online education. William O'Meara is professor of philosophy at James Madison University. His previous publications include co-authoring the James Madison Test in Critical Thinking, editing an introductory reader in philosophy as well as writing articles in American Philosophy, Phenomenology, and Karl Marx. William J. Hawk is professor of philosophy and head of the department of philosophy and religion at James Madison University. His previous publications include articles in ethics and political philosophy specifically having to do with pacifism.
Part 1 Introduction
Part 2 Chapter 1: Word Hazards: Statements, Ambiguity, and Vagueness
Chapter 3 A Logical Digression: Propositional Attitudes
Part 4 Chapter 2: Complex Passages: Descriptions, Explanations, and Arguments
Chapter 5 Odd words
Chapter 6 A Logical Digression: How not to distinguish induction from deduction, or why the valid/inductive distinction is better
Part 7 Chapter 3: Finding Arguments
Part 8 Chapter 4: Grounding Statements in Fact: Observation, Testimony, and Other Arguments based upon Criteria
Chapter 9 Criteria for evaluating observation statements
Chapter 10 Criteria for evaluating testimony
Part 11 Chapter 5: Deduction: Categorical Syllogisms
Chapter 12 Conversion, Obversion, Contraposition
Chapter 13 Categorical Syllogisms
Chapter 14 a. A Logical Digression: Venn Diagrams
Chapter 15 b. A Logical Digression: Conditional Validity
Chapter 16 c. Odd Words
Chapter 17 Enthymemes
Part 18 Chapter 6: Arguments Based upon Propositions
Chapter 19 Statement Forms
Chapter 20 a. A Logical Digression: Symbols and Truth Table Definitions
Chapter 21 Argument Forms
Chapter 22 a. Logical Digression: Truth Tables for Testing the Validity of Arguments
Chapter 23 b. Odd Words: Tautology, Contradiction, Contingent Statement
Chapter 24 Logical Equivalences
Chapter 25 a. A Logical Digression: Demonstrating the Equivalences with Truth Tables
Part 26 Chapter 7: Probability Calculations
Chapter 27 Theories of Probability
Chapter 28 a. Odd Words: Relative Frequency and Subjective Theories
Chapter 29 Rules of Probability
Part 30 Chapter 8: Generalizations and Particularizations
Chapter 31 Generalization Arguments
Chapter 32 a. A Logical Digression: Surveys and Opinion Polls
Chapter 33 Particularization Arguments
Part 34 Chapter 9: Analogical Arguments
Chapter 35 Analogical Arguments
Chapter 36 a. A Logical Digression: Analogical Arguments vs. Generalization and Particularization Arguments
Part 37 Chapter 10: Evaluating Hypotheses: Inference to Best Explanation
Chapter 38 Likelihood
Chapter 39 Explanatory Power
Chapter 40 Simplicity
Chapter 41 Novelty
Chapter 42 Appropriate Explanatory Content
Chapter 43 Summary of Factors in Evaluating Explanatory Inferences
Chapter 44 Explanatory Inferences, Confirmation, Disconfirmation, and Bayes's Theorem
Part 45 Chapter 11: Causal Inferences
Chapter 46 Mill's Methods of Causal Inference
Chapter 47 Probabilistic Method of Causal Inference
Chapter 48 Counterfactual Method of Causal Inference
Part 49 Chapter 12: Counterfactual Reasoning
Chapter 50 Supporting Counterfactual Claims
Chapter 51 a. A Logical Digression: Counterfactual Fallacies
Part 52 Chapter 13: Decisions Under Risk
Chapter 53 Utility
Chapter 54 Decision-Making Under Risk With One Factor
Chapter 55 Decision-Making Under Risk With Multiple Factors
Part 56 Chapter 14: Decisions Under Uncertainty
Chapter 57 Universal Principles for Decisions Under Uncertainty
Chapter 58 Further Principles for Decisions Under Multilateral Uncertainty
Chapter 59 Further Principles for Decisions Under Unilateral Uncertainty
Part 60 Chapter 15: Informal Fallacies
Chapter 61 Fallacies of Ambiguity
Chapter 62 Fallacies of Relevance
Chapter 63 Fallacies of Presumption
Chapter 64 Fallacies of Weak Induction
Part 65 Chapter 16: Critical Writing: An Audience-Centered Approach to Critical Thinking
Chapter 66 Examining Critical Writing: A Rhetorical Approach
Chapter 67 Selecting the Appropriate Forum
Chapter 68 Establishing Presentation Objectives
Chapter 69 Establishing Initial Credibility
Chapter 70 Screening Content for Inclusion
Chapter 71 Considering Sources of Information
Chapter 72 Identifying Content Areas
Chapter 73 Grouping Information for Readers
Chapter 74 Organizing Information within the Forum
Chapter 75 Externalizing Ideas: A Final Perspective
Part 76 Bibliography
Recommended . . . for those who want quick access to the formal rules often associated with critical thinking.
— Choice Reviews, October 2008