An inexpensive but comprehensive introduction, now in its second edition. Examples and homework problems touch on philosophical issues much more so than standard texts, providing instructors an opportunity to ease into philosophical discussions as desired and piquing student interest. Homework assignments are on tear-out pages for ease of use. While Critical Thinking and Logic: A Philosophical Workbook covers standard issues of critical thinking such as argument types and fallacies, it also provides a solid foundation for an advanced course in formal logic. The final chapter includes a complete translation of Descartes’s Meditations, allowing students to put their newly acquired skills to work on a classic work of philosophy.

Third edition of this popular introductory textbook.

Critical Thinking and Logic: A Philosophical Workbook is an inexpensive but comprehensive introduction. Examples and homework problems touch on philosophical issues much more so than standard texts, providing instructors an opportunity to ease into philosophical discussions as desired and piquing student interest. Homework assignments are on tear-out pages for ease of use.While Critical Thinking and Logic: A Philosophical Workbook covers standard issues of critical thinking such as argument types and fallacies, it also provides a solid foundation for an advanced course in formal logic. The final chapter includes a complete translation of Descartes's Meditations, allowing students to put their newly acquired skills to work on a classic work of philosophy.

This is the second edition of the popular, low-cost, college-level textbook in logic and critical thinking. Covering topics like worldviews, formal and informal logic, science, reasonable doubt, propaganda, fake news, and the history of logic, "Clear and Present Thinking" aims to make philosophy in general, and critical thinking skills in particular, unmysterious, and widely available for the general public.Contents: Chapter 1: An Outline History of LogicChapter 2: Informal Logic: Questions, Problems, and World ViewsChapter 3: Informal Logic: Habits of ThinkingChapter 4: Basics of Formal LogicChapter 5: ArgumentsChapter 6: Science and Scientific ReasoningChapter 7: FallaciesChapter 8: Reasonable DoubtChapter 9: Moral ReasoningChapter 10: ActivitiesEpilogue: Why Can't We All Get Along?Glossary of Terms in Logic and Philosophy

David Morrow and Anthony Weston build on Weston's acclaimed A Rulebook for Arguments to offer a complete textbook for a course in critical thinking or informal logic. Features of the book include: Homework exercises adapted from a wide range of actual arguments from newspapers, philosophical texts, literature, movies, YouTube videos, and other sources.Practical advice to help students succeed when applying the Rulebook's rules.Suggestions for further practice that outline activities students can do by themselves or with classmates to improve their critical thinking skills.Detailed instructions for in-class activities and take-home assignments designed to engage students in critical thinking.An appendix on mapping arguments, a topic not included in the Rulebook, that introduces students to this vital skill in evaluating or constructing complex and multi-step arguments.Model responses to odd-numbered exercises, including commentaries on the strengths and weaknesses of selected model responses as well as further discussion of some of the substantive intellectual, philosophical, and ethical issues raised by the exercises. The third edition of Workbook contains the entire text of the recent fifth edition of the Rulebook, supplementing this core text with extensive further explanations and exercises. Updated and improved homework exercises ensure that the examples continue to resonate with today’s students. Roughly one-third of the exercises have been replaced with updated or improved examples. A new chapter on engaging constructively in public debates—including five new sets of exercises—trains students to engage respectfully and constructively on controversial topics, an increasingly important skill in our hyper-partisan age. Three new critical thinking activities offer further opportunities to practice constructive dialogue.

I have tried to make this book an argument, not a catalogue of dogmas. Its ideal reader will find himself constantly asking questions, for which he will insist on finding his own answers. To avoid wasting his time, I have made the fullest use of authentic illustrations from newspapers, books, and other contemporary sources. One of the wisest things ever said about our subject is that “Logic, like whiskey, loses its beneficial effect when taken in too large doses.” While bearing this constantly in mind, I have also aimed at a high level of accuracy and the inclusion of nothing that would have to be unlearnt at a more advanced level of study. This book could never have been written without the help of the students to whom I have lectured on logic and scientific method. My chief obligations are to them. Logic ought to be easy, interesting, and enjoyable. This book will have been successful if it helps some readers to find it so.—Prof. Max Black