The Uses and Abuses of Argument: Critical Thinking and Fallacious Reasoning - Softcover

Carey, Stephen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 076740517X ISBN 13: 9780767405171

Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education, 1999

Synopsis

Lively and jargon-free, this example-driven critical thinking text pays particular attention to fallacious reasoning as well as to the kinds of valid arguments that correspond to nearly every fallacy. The text provides detailed discussions of the types of correct argument and inference corresponding to each fallacy and offers a “Media Watch” section in each chapter.

About this title

From the Publisher

The text includes a brief, rudimentary introduction to basic critical reasoning skills, including how to read, understand, and paraphrase arguments, with instruction on how to assess an argument's strengths and weaknesses.
Issues of interpretation are emphasized throughout, including a chapter on how to read and distill arguments from everyday sources, such as letters to the editor and advertisements.
Provides detailed discussions of the types of correct argument and inference corresponding to each fallacy.
Each chapter contains a 'Media Watch' section, detailing critical discussions of the mass media.
'Conundrums,' or problems that challenge students' critical thinking skills, appear in boxes throughout the text.
The text features over 500 examples and exercises, most involving material from contemporary sources, with exercises that help students understand fallacies by constructing their own examples.
A useful instructor's manual suggests selected answers and gives supplementary exercises and quiz material.

Synopsis

This is a jargon-free critical reasoning text. It focuses on issues of interpretation with regard to nearly every fallacy, then provides detailed discussions of the types of correct argument and inference that correspond with each fallacy.

Edition details

• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 076740517X
• ISBN 13: 9780767405171
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 292