Informal Logic (3rd Edition) [Paperback]

Irving M. Copi (Author), Keith Burgess-Jackson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0132290480 | ISBN-13: 978-0132290487 | Publication Date: October 5, 1995 | Edition: 3

The aim of Informal Logic, Third Edition is to cultivate readers' basic critical, analytical and reasoning skills through the examination of arguments and explanations as they appear in natural language. Unlike traditional logic texts, which are densely laden with symbols and jargon, this book is written in plain English to the utmost extent possible.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

The aim of Informal Logic, Third Edition is to teach basic critical, analytical and reasoning skills through the examination of arguments and explanations as they appear in natural language. While retaining the topical organization of the previous edition, much of the text has been rewritten to expand coverage and enhance clarity.

From the Back Cover

The aim of Informal Logic, Third Edition is to cultivate readers' basic critical, analytical and reasoning skills through the examination of arguments and explanations as they appear in natural language. Unlike traditional logic texts, which are densely laden with symbols and jargon, this book is written in plain English to the utmost extent possible.

Product Details

• Paperback: 314 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 3 edition (October 5, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0132290480
• ISBN-13: 978-0132290487
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #334,749 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good material, but bad value, January 10, 2002

By 

"philosopher15" (St.Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Informal Logic (Paperback)

I hold this to be a good book on the subject of informal logic, but the value is rather poor. The reason for this is that much of the book is merely reiterating what was said on the subject in Irving Copi's "Introduction to Logic". What makes this really bad, is that "Introduction to Logic" costs more or less the same as this, and covers a lot more ground. Do not buy this book!! Buy "Introduction to Logic" instead, for its value is much better than this one, and will teach you all that this one will and more.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Poor Value, March 9, 2004

By 

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

As an earlier reviewer noted, this book contains only a third of Copi's Introduction to Logic yet it costs almost as much.

There is nothing here that can't be found in Introduction to Logic. This is just another example of publishers repackaging old stuff and selling it at a premium, in an attempt to rip off college students.

If you want to learn logic, get Copi and Cohen's Introduction to Logic.And unless you are taking a course and thus need to do the exercises in the latest edition, save money by buying a cheap used copy of the previous edition.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent on its OWN merits, May 18, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Informal Logic (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

...Most of what is found in this book is also found in Copi's "Introduction to Logic". However, if you are not interested in symbolic logic and only want to learn informal logic, Copi's "Informal Logic" might be a better choice. It covers the topic in slightly greater detail, from a slightly different perspective, and is a little less expensive than "Introduction". I, too, would enthusiastically recommend "Introduction" to customers interested in a superb overview of both formal & informal logic and their applications to scientific, legal, and everyday reasoning. But, considered on its own merits, "Informal Logic" is an excellent book, perhaps the best on this topic. (BTW, an excellent supplement and handy, inexpensive reference is Weston's Rulebook for Arguments.)