The Power of Critical Thinking: Effective Reasoning About Ordinary and Extraordinary Claims (Paperback)

by Lewis Vaughn (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Enhanced by many innovative exercises, examples, and pedagogical features, The Power of Critical Thinking: Effective Reasoning About Ordinary and Extraordinary Claims, Second Edition, explores the essentials of critical reasoning, argumentation, logic, and argumentative essay writing while also incorporating material on important topics that most other texts leave out. Author Lewis Vaughn offers comprehensive treatments of core topics, including an introduction to claims and arguments, discussions of propositional and categorical logic, and full coverage of the basics of inductive reasoning. Building on this solid foundation, he also delves into areas neglected by other texts, adding extensive material on "inference to the best explanation" and on scientific reasoning; a thorough look at the evaluation of evidence and credibility; and a chapter on the psychological and social factors that can impede critical thinking. Additional notable elements are a chapter on moral reasoning, advice on how to evaluate Internet sources, and guidelines for evaluating occult, paranormal, or supernatural claims.
The Power of Critical Thinking, Second Edition, integrates many pedagogical features including hundreds of diverse exercises, examples, and illustrations; progressive, stand-alone writing modules; numerous text boxes; step-by-step guidelines for evaluating claims, arguments, and explanations; a glossary of important terms; and many reminders, summaries, and review notes throughout. The text is supplemented by a companion website at www.oup.com/us/criticalthinking (offering a student study guide and more), and an Instructor's Manual with Test Questions (available both in print and on a CD).
This unique text features a modular structure that allows instructors to teach the chapters in almost any order. Written in a student-friendly style and enhanced by humor where appropriate, it is ideal for courses in critical thinking, introduction to logic, informal logic, argumentative writing, and introduction to argumentation.
New to the Second Edition
* Full-color throughout and an expanded art program (37 more photos and illustrations)
* A new writing module--an annotated sample student paper--and five additional essays for analysis
* A new section on evaluating news reports and advertising
* Timely discussions of intelligent design and population (nonintervention) studies
* Expanded coverage of experts and authors and reasons to doubt their reliability
* More "Field Problems" and exercise questions
* Chapter objectives and key terms with definitions for each chapter

About the Author

Lewis Vaughn is the author or coauthor of several books, including: Bioethics: Principles, Issues, and Cases (OUP, 2008); How to Think About Weird Things: Critical Thinking for a New Age, Fifth Edition (2007); Doing Ethics: Moral Reasoning and Contemporary Issues (2007); Doing Philosophy: An Introduction Through Thought Experiments, Third Edition (2006); and Writing Philosophy: A Student's Guide to Writing Philosophy Essays (OUP, 2005).

Product Details

• Paperback: 580 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 2 edition (January 22, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195320417
• ISBN-13: 978-0195320411
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #165,661 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #65 in

  Books > Nonfiction > Education > Education Theory > Decision Making & Problem Solving

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great textbook on critical thinking and logic, October 28, 2008

By	ServantofGod - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This may be one of the best textbooks I read. If I were a member of a school board, I would definitely put this book into the curriculum. Well organized and fluently written with plenty of interesting quotes and cartoons, readers will easily finish the book and learn a lot, in particular Chapter 5 on Faulty Reasoning (Fallacy). One drawback is that the author had answered less than half of the many questions in the end of each chapter. Anyway, a good food for thought. Recommended.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Power of Critical Thinking, October 21, 2008

By	Gilbert Reeser "Gil" (SFO Bay Area) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a college textbook. A large glossy paperback, it ranges from basic to some pretty advanced thinking. It is a tough read but a pretty good reference. It probably is great for classroom teaching.

9 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Save Money, May 11, 2007

By	Nicole Li "Nicky" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Power of Critical Thinking: Effective Reasoning About Ordinary and Extraordinary Claims (Paperback)

I used this book for class up to Chapter 11, and it wasn't bad. There were lots of excerises, but there were only answers for 5/20 you do in the back of the book. its a good deal to buy from amazon because i bought it used and it worked great for me, i saved a little less than 75$ compare to buying it at the bookstore. So overall, this book is easy to understand and is better used for understanding concepts and definitions but not for excerises that practice what you learn in the chapters.