Critical Thinking: An Introduction [Paperback]

Alec Fisher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 10, 2001

In this book, Alec Fisher aims to teach directly an important range of thinking skills. The skills are fundamental critical (and creative) thinking skills, and they are taught in a way which expressly aims to facilitate their transfer to other subjects and other contexts. The method is to use 'thinking maps' which help improve thinking by asking key questions of students when they are faced with different types of problems. Alec Fisher explains the language of reasoning, how to understand different kinds of arguments and how to ask the right question. Other topics include: different patterns of reasoning and standards which apply in different contexts, how to clarify and interpret ideas, how to judge the credibility of claims, and how to decide whether a person really justifies their conclusions, given their audience. Particular attention is given to understanding casual explanations and evaluating decisions. THe book includes many examples and exercises which give extensive practice in developing critico-creative thinking skills.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

Critical Thinking includes topics such as: argument analysis, clarifying terms and interpreting ideas, skilful decision making and value judgements, and applying critical thinking to different subjects. Critical Thinking includes exercises that enable students to practise their critical thinking skills, as well as an appendix of examples and exercises for teachers to use and adapt.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 16 and up
  
• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (December 10, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521009847
• ISBN-13: 978-0521009843
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #116,290 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

150 of 155 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, Original, and Useful, March 12, 2004

By 

Fred Waring (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Critical Thinking: An Introduction (Paperback)

Alec Fisher goes beyond the dry deductive logic and standard fallacy-spotting usually found in these critical-thinking textbooks. He gets into the WHY of poor reasoning and offers interesting and original exercises designed to make students understand the reasons for their failure to think rigorously, fairly, and creatively.

Fisher's book is much better than 90% of the critical-thinking texts on the market. And at only a quarter the price of most such textbooks, it's a great bargain, too.

61 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The easiest way to learn the bases of critical thinking, October 23, 2005

By 

Averroes (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Critical Thinking: An Introduction (Paperback)

I find this book one of the best introductory books addressing the essentials of critical thinking. The author discussed the elements of critical thinking in a very easy and comprehensive manner that broad range of readers can absorb easily. The chapters that discuss the assumptions and the credibility are really so valuable. Above all, the charts that summarize each chapter are so valuable to revise the whole story in a few statements. I do recommend this book for the readers searching for the easiest way to teach themselves the basics of critical thinking.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I really liked this one., May 24, 2010

By 

Gary Mccormack (Bellevue, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Critical Thinking: An Introduction (Paperback)

I've been educating myself with a number of books on Critical Thinking in order to improve my overall thinking, and by applying the techniques and principles to other areas of study - to utimately become a more effective learner. I enjoyed this book for several reasons - the book is very well written, it follows the curriculum of the AS level Critical thinking. The examples and exercises in the book where engaging, well chosen and modern. The skills are highly transferable to other areas, and are taught explicitly. I'm using this book in conjunction with Thinking Skills by J Butterworth and the Art of Reasoning by David Kelly. I'm still absorbing the skills of Critical thinking, since it is a highly practical skill- and hopefully I'll reap the benefits in due course. The journey to becoming a more effective critical thinker is most enjoyable when you encounter a book like this.