Critical Thinking is a comprehensive introduction to the essential skills of good reasoning, refined and updated through seven editions published over more than two decades. This concise edition offers a succinct presentation of the essential elements of reasoning that retains the rigor and sophistication of the original text. The authors provide a thorough treatment of such central topics as deductive and inductive reasoning, logical fallacies, how to recognize and avoid ambiguity, and how to distinguish what is relevant from what is not. A companion website provides a range of interesting supplements, including interactive review materials, supplemental readings, and writing tips.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments Online Materials PART ONE: INTRODUCTION Chapter 1: Reasoning and Critical Thinking Reasoning The Concept of Logical Strength Truth, Logical Strength, and Soundness Critical Thinking Skills Critical Thinking and the Science of Logic Self-Test No. 1 Questions for Discussion PART TWO: MEANING Chapter 2: Meaning and Definition The Complexity of Language The Meaning of Language The Reference Theory of Meaning The Idea Theory of Meaning Meaning as Use The Main Functions of Language Self-Test No. 2 Questions for Discussion Definition The Purposes of Definition Reportive Definitions Stipulative Definitions Essentialist Definitions Methods of Definition Genus-Species Method Ostensive Method Synonym Method Operational Method Contextual Method Assessing Reportive Definitions Too Broad a Definition Too Narrow a Definition Too Broad and Too Narrow a Definition Circular Definition Obscure Definition Assessing Stipulative and Essentialist Definitions A Warning Self-Test No. 3 Questions for Discussion Chapter 3: Clarifying Meaning The Principle of Charity Linguistic Ambiguity Ambiguity and Vagueness Referential Ambiguity Grammatical Ambiguity Use and Mention Self-Test No. 4 Analytic, Contradictory, and Synthetic Statements Self-Test No. 5 Descriptive and Evaluative Meaning Self-Test No. 6 Necessary and Sufficient Conditions Self-Test No. 7 Questions for Discussion Chapter 4: Reconstructing Arguments Reconstruction Missing Premises and Conclusions Self-Test No. 8 Special Cases Reports of Arguments Explanations Self-Test No. 9 The Structure of Arguments Simple Arguments T Arguments V Arguments Complex Arguments Self-Test No. 10 Another Warning Questions for Discussion PART THREE: ASSESSING ARGUMENTS Chapter 5: Strategies for Assessing Arguments The Fallacies Approach The Criterial Approach The Three Criteria of a Sound Argument Seven Rules for Assessing Arguments Rule 1. Identify the Main Conclusion Rule 2. Identify the Premises Rule 3. Identify the Structure of the Argument Rule 4. Check the Acceptability of the Premises Rule 5. Check the Relevance of the Premises Rule 6. Check the Adequacy of the Premises Rule 7. Look for Counter-Arguments Chapter 6: Assessing Truth-Claims Theories of Truth The Correspondence Theory The Coherence Theory The Pragmatic Theory Types of Truth-Claims Empirical Truth-Claims Non-Empirical Truth-Claims Acceptability Self-Test No. 11 Questions for Discussion Assessing the Acceptability of Premises Some Particular Fallacies Begging the Question Inconsistency Equivocation False Dichotomy Self-Test No. 12 Questions for Discussion Chapter 7: Assessing Relevance The Criterion of Relevance Recognizing Irrelevant Premises Appeals to Authority (1) Some Particular Fallacies Ad Hominem Tu Quoque Straw Man Self-Test No. 13 Questions for Discussion Chapter 8: Assessing Adequacy The Criterion of Adequacy Appeals to Authority (2) Appeals to Anecdotal Evidence Appeals to Ignorance The Slippery Slope Fallacy Causal Fallacies Post Hoc Confusing Cause and Effect Common Cause Self-Test No. 14 Questions for Discussion Chapter 9: Deductive Reasoning The Nature of Deductive Reasoning Truth-Functional Statements Formal Validity and Soundness Valid Argument Forms Formal Invalidity Self-Test No. 15 Questions for Discussion Chapter 10: Inductive Reasoning The Nature of Inductive Reasoning Inductive Generalization Statistical Syllogism Induction by Confirmation Analogical Reasoning Self-Test No. 16 Questions for Discussion Chapter 11: Arguing Back Explaining the Weakness Counter-Examples Absurd Examples Counter-Arguments Self-Test No. 17 Questions for Discussion Chapter 12: Irrational Techniques of Persuasion Loaded Terms Vague Terms Loaded Questions False Confidence Selectivity Misleading Statistics Humor Red Herring Guilt by Association Persuasive Redefinition Self-Test No. 18 Questions for Discussion Appendix: Answers to Self-Tests Glossary Index