The art of deception : an introduction to critical thinking
/ Nicholas Capaldi and Miles Smit
- ii, 277 pages : illustrations
Includes index.
Introduction What is logic? What is an argument? When is an argument acceptable? Summary and exercises One. Identifying arguments Arguments Difficulties in identifying arguments Grammar, punctuation, and reading comprehension Rules for identifying premises and conclusions Summary and exercises Two. Formal analysis of arguments The ideal of logic Syllogisms Rules for valid syllogisms Soundness and informal logic Summary and exercises Three. Presenting your case Gaining a sympathetic audience Presenting the facts Driving home the conclusion Nonverbal devices Advertising as a case study Summary and exercises Four. Attacking an argument Audience reaction Anatomy of refutation Attacking the conclusion Face-to-face debate Summary and exercises Five. Defending your case Counterattack Winning the argument Going for a tie Summary and exercises Six. Cause-and-effect reasoning History of the concept of "causation" Hume's definition of cause and effect Causal reasoning as practical Mill's methods Fallacies of causal reasoning Problems with the concept of "causation" Summary and exercises