Critical Reasoning and Philosophy: A Concise Guide to Reading, Evaluating, and Writing Philosophical Works

Front Cover
Rowman & Littlefield, 2004 - Philosophy - 151 pages
Critical Reasoning & Philosophy is an innovative and clearly written handbook that teaches new philosophy students how to think and read critically, and write thoughtful, sound arguments in response. Concise, accessible language and ample use of examples and study modules help students gain the basic knowledge necessary to succeed in undergraduate philosophy courses, and to apply that knowledge to achieve success in other disciplines as well. Used either alongside primary source material or as a supplement to a primary text in critical thinking or informal logic, Critical Reasoning & Philosophy is an excellent resource for undergraduate students.
 

Contents

What Is Philosophy?
3
Philosophy and Critical Reasoning
6
On Reading Philosophy
10
ARGUMENT RECOGNITION AND RECONSTRUCTION
15
The Elements of Analysis
17
Ten Helpful Steps
24
DIAGRAMMING ARGUMENTS
35
Fundamentals of Diagramming
37
Writing Your Thesis
95
General Writing Tips
101
Common Mistakes
111
WRITING PHILOSOPHICAL ESSAYS
119
Evaluative Essays
121
Critical Essays
125
Revising and Rewriting Essays
129
Exercises for Diagramming
131

Ten Diagrammatical Tips
42
ARGUMENT EVALUATION
51
A Closer Look at Statements
53
Conditions of Acceptance and Rejection
61
Three Common Deductive Arguments
66
Common Inductive Arguments
72
Other Common Fallacies
82
GENERAL WRITING TIPS
89
Getting Ready to Write
91
Evaluative Essay and Outline
135
Critical Essay and Outline
139
TeacherStudent Comment Sheet
143
PlanforRevision Sheet
145
Bibliography
147
Index
149
About the Author
Copyright

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

About the author (2004)

M. Andrew Holowchak is assistant professor of philosophy at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania and a contributing author to Fundamentals of Philosophy, 5th ed.

Bibliographic information