Arguing Well (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The overall purpose of this book is to present the basic tools and principles of good reasoning in arguments, and to suggest how one might..." (more)
Key Phrases: practising reasoning, deductive soundness, breathes using gills, Uniformity of Nature Principle, Example All, Rules of Deduction (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

'... clearly set out, it assumes no prior knowledge, and it would make good background reading for anyone embarking on Ofsted training or a headteacher's management course.' - Times Educational Supplement

'A handy guidebook to the elements of reasoning well.' - Philosophers' Magazine

... clearly set out, it assumes no prior knowledge, and it would make good background reading for anyone embarking on Ofsted training or a headteachers management course. - Times Educational Supplement

A handy guidebook to the elements of reasoning well. - Philosophers Magazine

Product Description

What are arguments for? How do they work and how do they fail? Arguing Well gives a lucid introduction to the nature of arguments. It explains the principles of good reasoning, how to apply it and strategies to overcome forces that lead to abandoning it.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (August 24, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415166861
• ISBN-13: 978-0415166867
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,082,198 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Active Scrutiny, June 5, 2003

By	Davin Enigl - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The first half:
The main value of this book is to teach people to notice poor arguments in their daily lives, such as reading, during the TV news, talking to a congressperson or one's children/parents. The idea is that if you see why arguments fail, that will make you more aware of your own faulty arguments and maybe fix them.

The book is very concentrated in few pages so there is no excuse not to read it. It's not 500 pages of esoteric jabber by law clerks during a trail.

The second half: It's all basic logic and truth tables, so you get some academics to boot.

Then, the final chapter, 6, is the most philosophical, giving the reasoning why reason is better than non-reason -- truthfinding.